I was born on 28th March 1974 in the city and province of Camagüey, Cuba,
into a family with a tradition of music. My father, whose principal
instrument is the trumpet, is at present conductor of a symphony orchestra
in Camagüey, as well as being a composer, arranger, and professor in a
music academy.

Already at the age 6 I got my first musical training from my father,
Humberto Zaldivar Wambrug. Four years later I successfully passed the
entrance test for the trumpet department of the 'Escuela Vocacional de
Artes' (Vocational School of Art) of Camagüey, within whose surroundings
I continued my basic musical education.

In 1986 I took part in a regional competition in the province of Camagüey
for both Classical and specifically Cuban music, winning first prize in
both categories. In the same year I represented Camagüey in the national
'Amadeo Roldan' Competition in Havana, in which all music schools of Cuba
took part. I won second prize overall, and first prize in the category
Cuban Music.

After completing my elementary education I matriculated in Cuba's premier
music high-school in Havana, the 'Escuela Nacional de Arte', to complete
my education in Classical music. In the relevant final examination I
graduated on 22nd May 1993 in the departments of Classical Trumpet and
Instruction in Musical Theory and Practice.

In the same year, 1993, I spent six months working with a 12-person vocal
group, 'Ebano y Marfil.' I also played as first trumpet of the ensemble
'Campo Alegre,' the ensemble which accompanied the 'Queen of Folklore',
Celina Gonzales, and the singer Reutilio Jr. In this group we made several
TV and radio appearances and documentary films, and went on international
tour to Japan, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela.

In Colombia I was able to take part in various festivals during 1995:
Feria de Cali, Feria de las Flores de Medellin, etc., with, among others,
Oscar de Leon, 'Grupo Niche', Gambino Pampini, Joe Arroyo and 'Guayacan'.

In 1996 I joined the new group Grupo Asere. In November of the same year
I played with the Tres-Virtuosen Juan de la Cruz/ 'Coto' and his band Eco
del Caribe, and with them I made my first CD, 'A mi Yemaya' at the well-
known EGREM Studio in Havana in 1997. Later in 1997 I performed with the
same group under the umbrella of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba
in Havana, including performance as solo trumpet accompaniment to the guest
musician Jane Bunnett (jazz-flute and soprano saxaphone).

In 1997 I was invited by Compay Segundo of 'the Buena Vista Social Club'
to play with him at the  'Studio Ojala' of the guitar player, song-writer
and composer, Silvio Rogriguey, on three CDs for the Warner Music label
(CDs: 'Lo Mejor de la Vida', 'Duet', and 'Gracias Compay').
I ended 1997 with a successful tour of the Dominican Republic with the
band Eco del Caribe, of which several appearances were shown on Cuban TV,
including appearances with other prominent musicians, Chucho Valdez and
Irakere, Papi Oviedo, etc.

In 1998 and 1999 I regularly worked for Cuban TV and radio on various music
programmes, including the series 'Mi Salsa'.

In January 2000 with the band Eco del Caribe I played a theme for the film
Cuban Fire which was presented at the Cannes Film Festival.
At the same time I took part in the first recording, for a CD, of unpublished
work by the late musician and composer Lili Martinez.

In the course of 2000 I accompanied the well-known Cuban singer Caridad
Hierrezuelo on an extensive tour of Europe (12 concerts in Spain, Portugal,
Germany, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Austria). During this tour I came
to attention of the jazz-drummer Julio Barretto (ex-member of the group
of the famous jazz-piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba) and he invited me to
join his quartet for their European tour (12 performances in Luxembourg,
Belgium, Austria, Germany).

In 2001 I began my career in Germany in the company of various musicians
and groups, including 'Cubanisimo' of Hamburg and 'Sexteto Chanchullo'.
In July I appeared with 'Sexteto Chanchullo' at the Andria Jazz Festival
in Italy. In August I played with the band 'Complices' at the Hamburg
Jazz Festival, and made a CD with them.
2001 ended with a critically acclaimed tour of Norway with the 'Cuarteto
Chanchullo' accompanying Caridad Hierrezuelo, the 'Diva del Son'.

The following were the highlights of 2002:

1-  Latin-Jazz Big Band 'Conexion Latina': April 2002 (engaged by the
    band leader Tomas Perez).

2-  Beginning of participation in the band Rodriguez Tobar and 'La Fiesta'
    (Latin-American music): April 2002.

3-  Pop-group 'Fuego' (Karlsruhe): May 2002.

4-  'Rally Jazz Festival' in Düsseldorf, June 2002, with
    'Chanchullo Sextet'.

5-  Festival de Salsa in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, July 2002, with
    'Chanchullo Sextet'.

6-  Lecco Jazz Festival in Lecco, Italy, 28 July, with 'Chanchullo Sextet'.

At the beginning of 2003 I played in the Rolf-Liebermann Studio of NDR
in Hamburg with the Gateway Orchestra in the Classical-Crossover Project
'Parsifal goes La Habana' / Reminiszenz an Richard Wagner.
In April 2003 I appeared with 'Chanchullo Sextet' at the 'Festival de
Musica Cubana' at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In July I started a
project with the pop-singer Juliette ('Chocolatina Bianca').