Michel Camilo Quotes

When I was in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic I was playing mainly "hard-bop", "fusion" and classical music - I was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra at 16 -, so the Latin influence really came out when I moved up to New York in 1979 and realized then that my "roots" were important. 
Michel Camilo

I studied classical piano since 9 at the National Conservatory of the Dom. Rep.; and second in New York I studied privately with Jacob Lateiner from Juilliard School of Music who also taught me a complete different piano technique. That's why I always say that I have two piano techniques and I just try to use the best of each one, whatever makes it easier to play what I am hearing and feeling at the moment with the least amount of energy spent. 
Michel Camilo