In Time with Jesús Molina, a Colombian jazz pianist and educator

This week we are joined by the one and only Jesús Molina, a jazz pianist. The Colombian has spent the past year focusing on his international masterclass program and recently released his fifth album, ‘Departing’.

In this episode…

Jesús Molina talks to us about his musical background. He began playing the saxophone in church at age 12, switching to piano at age 15. This decision stemmed from his frustration with the temperamental nature of woodwind instruments and his desire to consistently sound great when he played. He is self-taught and discovered jazz through YouTube, where he was drawn to the technique and sound of legends such as Oscar Peterson.

Jesús goes on to discuss his education and teaching strategy. He earned a full scholarship to Berklee. He tells us that the most useful lesson from the institute was understanding music theory. Additionally, he highlights the importance of detaching oneself from attitude and emotionally connecting to music. These beliefs form the foundation of his masterclasses, which he teaches in both religious and academic institutions.

We finish off the episode by exploring Jesús’ compositional approach. He admits that his compositions are usually influenced by what he is focusing on in practice technique-wise, rather than being limited by stylistic expectations. Finally, we discuss re-harmonization and the selective process for his 2019 album, Reharms Vol. 1. He states, ‘You should learn music like you learn to talk. You listen and you repeat. […] If it sounds good, it is good.’

Where can you find the episode?

The full episode of In Time with Jesús Molina is available at InTimePodcast.com. You can also listen on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. Follow @InTimeUK for all clips and episode information.

More information on Jesús’ new releases and masterclasses can be found on his website. You can also follow his Instagram @jesusmolinamusic and check out his YouTube.