Carlos Pino is a Colombian acoustic and electric bassist, composer, arranger and educator based in New York City. In a musical career that expands over more than 25 years, he has performed, toured and collaborated with several of the biggest names in the contemporary music scene. His work can be appreciated in more than 30 albums that he recorded in a wide range of musical styles from Rock and Jazz to World, Colombian and Classical music.

Early life and education

Pino was born in Bogota, Colombia on March 3 1979. He was exposed to music from a very early age and began his musical journey at age six motivated by his father who encouraged him to take lessons and practice the electric organ which was the instrument that was available at his home. At the beginning he focused on popular music, especially Colombian music and that’s how he developed his ear and sense of rhythm.

In high school, he discovered Rock music and the immediate passion he felt for this art form drove him to listen to music for countless hours everyday. He taught himself how to play the electric bass by practicing everyday for many hours with the records. His first influences came from punk oriented bands like The Clash, Mano Negra and Caifanes but definitely the band that made him understand that he was born to be a musician was the Red Hot Chili Peppers and particularly the sound of the bass of Flea captivated him in a special way. Around that period he formed his first rock band with his friends called “La Severa Matacera” and began playing in the local circuit of clubs and festivals. After graduation he spent a year doing the military service in Colombia and during this period he played in the orchestra and was exposed to many different styles of music including salsa and other tropical rhythms very popular in Colombia.