Born in Coquimbo on June 27, 1972, Cristian Cuturrufo was one of the centerpieces of the Chilean jazz scene. With great versatility, he crossed several genres and was close to popular music, longer than to academia.
He grew up in a family of musicians and had three siblings. His father played the sorrel, but he opted for the trumpet. He always claimed his roots, linked to the port and diaguita culture.
“As a child he started in music in his native Coquimbo, through the influence of his father, accordionist Wilson Cuturrufo, head of a family of performers linked to the musical traditions of the port and the popular festivals of the region,” notes the site Música Popular.
He studied at the Jorge Peña Hen Experimental School and then majored at the Catholic University in Santiago. He then traveled to Cuba for six months to consolidate his knowledge.
Back in the country he was part of several groups, such as Motuto (with Ignacio González), Los Titulares, Vernáculo and Cutus-Clan. In the latter band he played with his brother Rodrigo, along with working with veteran Valentín Trujillo.
In between he directed several quintets during the 1990s, among others with saxophonists Ignacio González, Jimmy Coll and David Pérez, guitarists Jorge Díaz, Daniel Lencina Jr and Federico Dannemann, bassists Felipe Chacón, Christian Gálvez and Cristián Monreal, and drummers Ivan Lorenzo, Carlos Cortés and Andrés Celis.
He debuted in 2000 with the album Puro Jazz, with the label Big Sur, and released a total of 10 works. The last was “Socos” (2019). He also collaborated on “Los náufragos” (1994), with Angel Parra, and “Roberto Parra: Invocado” (2009).
Cuturrufo also toured numerous international tours throughout his career. In fact, last year he was in Egypt.
“Your spirit will always be in our hearts and thoughts,” musician Francisco Molina wrote this Friday. “The sound continues. Bless you! by one that never dropped the groove.”
