3 times Latin Grammy Winner, 1 time Grammy Nominee Venezuelan bassist, composer, arranger and music producer.
In 2014 won his first Latin Grammy for his role as musician, producer and engineer on his very own group’s album, C4 Trio + El Pollo Brito, “De Repente”, one out off two nominations that year; in 2019 he won two Latin Grammy on “Best Arrangement” and “Best Folk Album” for “Tiempo al Tiempo” by Luis Enrique + C4 Trio, where he holds credits as band leader, producer, arranger, engineer and performer.
He also Co-produced the 2013 Latin Grammy Nominee Album, “Gualberto + C4” by C4 Trio and the legendary Venezuelan singer, Gualberto Ibarreto.
In 2018 he was nominated for the Recording Academy Awards (NARAS), on the album “Pa’ Fuera” by C4 Trio + Desorden Publico”.
As a recording session bassist, he is counting around 30 Latin Grammy nominee certificates now, and recently learned that has been nominated for 2018 Recording Academy Awards (NARAS), to be celebrated on next January in New York City.
His work has been reviewed in several specialized bass and music magazines such as “Musico Pro” (Colorado, USA), “Bass Musician Magazine” (Washington, USA), and “La Dosis” (Caracas, Venezuela).
As a bassist, he has performed with some of the most important Venezuelans and international artists such as Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela with Rubén Blades as special featuring in “Viva La Vida” concert in Caracas, 2013.
Also has been bassist for great artist like Oscar De Leon, Sergio George, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, París Jazz Big Band, Franco de Vita, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Frank Quintero, Dave Samuels, Yordano, Jerry Rivera, Pedro Eustache, Gerry Weil, Huáscar Barradas, Ralph Irizarri, Rafael “el Pollo” Brito, Aquiles Báez, Soledad Bravo, Andrés Briceño, Pablo Gil, Nené Quintero, Luisito Quintero, Robert Quintero, Biella Da Costa, Orlando Poleo, Judy Buendia, Nelson Arrieta, Jorge Luis Chacin, Chino y Nacho, Nacho, Servando y Florentino, Lexestet, Linda Briceño, Alfredo Naranjo y “El Guajeo”, Gualberto Ibarreto, César Orozco & Kamarata Jazz, José Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Luis “Papo” Márquez,, Hana Kobayashi, Anais Vivas, Jorge Glem, Movida Acústica Urbana, Percussion Ensemble of Venezuela, Venezuelan Brass Quintet, Ilan Chester, Caracas Rhythmic Quartet, Elisa Rego, Vinilo Versus, María Rivas, and the international musical shows Venezuela Viva and Orinoco among others.
His intensive activity as a bassist has earned him international awards, including Latin Grammy in 2011, with the “Treasures of the Venezuelan Music” from the famous Venezuelan artist Ilan Chester, in the category “Best Folklorico Album”, He also won The Joropo International Tournament in Villavicencio, Colombia, in the category of “Best Ensemble New Format” with C4 Trio and “Best Bassist”.
As a multi-instrumentalist. he had recorded Piano, Keybords, Melodica, Double-bass and Acustic Guitar in several productions for great artists, such as Rafael ‘el Pollo’ Brito, Frank Quintero, Jose Luis Quintana ‘Changuito’, Judy Buendia, María Alejandra Rodríguez, C4 Trio and many live performances.
Padilla has been on several international tours visiting and performing in Estados Unidos, Francia, España, Italia, Alemania, Bélgica, Inglaterra, Escocia, Holanda, Marruecos, Canadá, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Costa Rica, Perú, Cuba and other countries from Latin American and the Caribbean.
He has also traveled around Venezuela dictating workshops about contemporary harmony as well as execution and improvisation of electric bass. In 2010, he was invited along with his group, C4 Trío, for giving a concert and some lectures in the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, as a part of their USA tour.