Music Connects us
Cuban saxophonist, composer and educator Maikel Garcia is renowned for his expressive improvisations, precisely connected compositions and the profound soul he brings to people. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, his music seamlessly blends the warmth of his Latin roots with a dynamic, creative spirit that keeps listeners leaning in.
Roots and rhythm
Raised in a home filled with bossa nova, classical music and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Maikel developed a sound that blends jazz, Latin, funk and Afro-urban influences. Maikel’s musical journey has taken him from Cuba to Belize, Ecuador, Mexico and the United States, where he currently lives on the coast of California. As a soloist and leader of M Project, he has performed with Cuban legends including Chuchito Valdés, Carlos Perrote and Jorge Triana. Maikel holds a Bachelor of Arts, emphasis saxophone from the José María Heredia Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from the Instituto Superior Pedagógico Frank País García, both in Santiago de Cuba.
Recordings and film
His latest single, Viaje, is an instrumental journey through rhythm and feeling, driven by intense saxophone solos. His recent albums include From Cero, an Afro-urban infused album telling stories of struggle, resilience and success; and Life, an instrumental album built around specific tones whose frequencies are intentionally tuned to evoke reflection and emotional wellbeing. His composed the score for the critically acclaimed documentary Truth Be Told: Irving Norman and the Human Predicament, winner of more than a dozen international film festival awards. He has also composed original commercial and promotional music for organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York and Europe.
Music, culture and connection
Through his performances, Maikel shares the Afro-Cuban traditions and musical influences that have shaped his life. With an inviting energy, he draws audiences into the music—joining a chorus, repeating a rhythm and connecting through the shared experience of making music together. In addition to his recording, film and commercial work, Maikel has been the Musical Teaching Artist in the Expressive Arts program at Caminar in the Bay Area for nearly a decade, using therapeutic music to help individuals process trauma, develop positive coping skills and recover from mental health crises.