Photo: Mafe Angulo
Juan Pastor began studying percussion in Lima, Peru under the tutelage of Eusebio Sirio “Pititi,” widely acknowledged as a master of Afro-Peruvian percussion. At the Conservatorio Nacional de Lima, Pastor studied classical music for five years. After realizing his passion for jazz, Pastor moved to Chicago to study at Northern Illinois University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music and performed as a member of the university’s top jazz ensemble under the direction of Ronald Carter. His studies included mentorship from Greg Beyer, Fareed Haque, Rich Holly and Robert Chappell.
In 2013, Pastor undertook graduate studies at DePaul University, studying under Dana Hall and receiving his master’s degree in music. During his time at DePaul, Pastor took on duties as a teaching assistant in the jazz department under the direction of Bob Lark.
From 2014 to 2022, Pastor taught as an adjunct music faculty member at Benedictine University and a percussion instructor for the Merit School of Music. Throughout 2018, he worked as an adjunct percussion and ensemble teacher for Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Pastor is currently a member of the faculty at North Central College.
Pastor has performed in jazz festivals all over the world. In Europe, he has played at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and the Made in Chicago Jazz Festival in Poznan, Poland. In the United States, he has taken the stage at many festivals including SA in New York, IAJE, Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Festival and the Elkhart Jazz Festival. In Mexico, he has displayed his percussion skills at the UV International Jazz Festival, the San Miguel De Allende Jazz Festival and the Blues International Festival. Pastor has also played the Nicaraguan Jazz Festival and given performances for many events in his native Peru, including the Lima Jazz Festival.
Pastor has taught countless workshops on Afro-Peruvian music throughout the United States. His new book, Batería Peruana, explores approaches to performing polyrhythmic grooves on the drum set inspired by Peruvian folk music.
Pastor’s critically acclaimed band Chinchano boasts a seductively potent fusion of jazz with Peruvian rhythms. Their self-titled first album was released in 2014 to plaudits from the Chicago Tribune, Downbeat, Modern Drummer, All About Jazz and others. The Chicago Tribune named Chinchano’s second release, El Cambio, "Best Modern Jazz Album" in 2015. The third album, El Regreso (2019), finds the band in full power and features saxophonist and multiple Grammy nominee Miguel Zenón as special guest. Their fourth album, Cachito, is set for a May 2023 release on BACE Records.
Pastor has had the honor of playing with notable recording artists such as Miguel Zenón, Aaron Goldberg, Howard Levy, Jimmy Heath, Marquis Hill, Fareed Haque, Kurt Elling, and many others.