Salvador Olmos practically grew up behind the curtains of the National Symphony of Mexico. His parents worked there as classical musicians and brought him along for rehearsals and concerts even before he could walk, often accompanied by his grandmother. Listening to his parents practicing, he developed a surprising musicality very early on and would eventually learn entire concerts by heart. The influence of classical music is evident in many of Salvador’s works today.
At the age of two, his father taught him to operate the record player, and listening to music of all genres became one of his favourite pastimes, always transcribing without knowing it as he memorized melodies and sang along. His father further nurtured his interest for music by playing the guitar and singing traditional songs with him, and at five years old Salvador started playing the cello. He also received piano lessons and introductory music theory, and only eight years old he played his first concert on the cello at the Institute of Fine Arts’ Artistic Initiation School. The year after he enrolled in the National Music Academy’s children’s level where he continued to study the cello until he, at 15, fell in love with the guitar.
He studied classical guitar for a year but soon turned to the electric guitar and also began receiving private lessons in modern harmony. In these lessons names like Miles Davis and John Coltrane would often pop up, and during the next years he delved further into jazz music. Meanwhile, he developed his musicianship in different ensembles for which he also composed original music, until he moved to Denmark where he continues to live and work.
Salvador holds a Master’s degree in guitar and ensemble direction from The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg in Denmark. He has played at the major national jazz festivals and toured in Europe and the Americas. Today, he leads his own projects and is also a busy sideman. Aside from his creative work, he is a valued guitar teacher and has also given masterclasses in both guitar and composition.
With an unusually broad musical background, Salvador’s work is a modern, expressive form of jazz without walls. Rooted in a strong musical foundation, his music blends a lyrical and intelligent post-bop style with elements of classical and contemporary music, rock and free jazz. He enjoys all types of music as long as it makes him feel something.
