CubaPLUS Magazine

It is no secret to anyone that artists, in order for them to be truly artists, have to carry that profession in their blood and, in the case of Giraldo Piloto, I would dare to say that musical notes run through his veins.

Coming from a family of musicians: his father a composer of boleros and violinist Giraldo Piloto (1929-1967) ―who was part of one of the most outstanding composer duos in Cuba, Piloto y Vera-, his mother a piano teacher, and his uncle, the notable percussionist Guillermo Barreto (1929-1991), it can be affirmed that Giraldo Piloto Barreto was born not as they say &with the bread under his arm", but with "drums under his arm", due to his virtuosity in percussion.

He has integrated several well-known music groups: the Tropicana Cabaret orchestra, later NG la Banda, until founding his own: Klimax, just over a quarter of a century ago, in which, in addition to being its director, he is the drummer, percussionist, arranger, orchestrator and composer.

Klimax is the "daughter" that Piloto has "raised" and "educated" like any good "father" with dedication, characterized by the mixture of different sounds such as Jazz, Pop, Funk, Cuban Rumba and Son to achieve what is known as Timba. His latest record production, "Mucho", with luxury guests including Alexander Abreu and Havana D'Primera, Alain Pérez, Luis Fernando Borja, Brenda Navarrete and Yordis Larrazabal, among others, has "much" to give.

As the culmination of his artistic career, he founded in the year 2000, the Fiesta del Tambor or Havana Rhythm and Dance Festival -in which he chairs its organizing committee- to honor the life and work of Guillermo Barreto, one of the best drummers in Cuba in the last century and, every year, brings together what is best and shines in percussion in the world. So, more than valid, is the statement that musical notes run through his veins.