Tavo Tixu (Octavio Pérez Bautista) born in Oaxaca, Mexico on January 11th, 1986, he grew up in an artistic family with Zapotec and Mixtec roots.
His biggest influences have been his parents, Argelia and Gonzalo, who are teachers of Mexican traditional dance, and his grandfather Cirenio Bautista, a rural teacher who played several instruments, including the violin, piano, harmonica, guitar and psaltery. At home, music and art were always present.
Tavo´s musical journey began with his teacher, Roberto Martinez, when he was 15 years old. He started playing Latin American music, and after playing instruments such as the charango, cuatro and percussion, he began to play a traditional instrument from the south of Mexico, called the ‘Jarana’.
When his teacher introduced him to the traditional music of Son Jarocho, the Jarana put a spell on him. He continually traveled to Veracruz, Mexico, to learn and explore the world of Son Jarocho, particularly the Jarana instrument.
Tavo was passionate about expanding his musical abilities. He decided to complement his previous experience playing the Jarana and Requinto Jarocho by studying classical guitar with Juan Manuel Vidal at the Music Arts Academy (Casa de la Cultura). Tavo´s dedication paid offend, he later played the Jarana and Requinto Jarocho with the Raíces group in Oaxaca Mexico.
After six years of playing Son Jarocho, Tavo felt inspired to create his own compositions and explore new sounds. He assembled the Molcajete group to experiment with blending traditional Son Jarocho with other genres, such as reggae, blues, and funk. Their musical exploration allowed Tavo to expand his musical horizons and develop a unique, rich personal style.
Through his work with Molcajete, Tavo not only expanded his musical language but also his cultural understanding. The groups diverse influences allowed him to explore and appreciate different perspectives, ultimately enriching his personal and artistic growth.
In 2008, Tavo was invited to compose original music for the play `Tremor` in collaboration with The Oaxaca Contemporary Ballet Company. The performance was scheduled to take place in Miami, Florida, and Tavo was thrilled to be a part to it. With dedication and hard work, he created a beautiful score that perfectly complemented the choreography.
Later in 2010, Tavo joined the group Soneando , where they focused on composing and interpreting Son Jarocho and Traditional Oaxaca Music. It was an exciting project for Tavo, and he had the opportunity to experiment and push his musical boundaries. The group record their first album, which was an experimental work produced by The Contemporary Art Museum of Oaxaca (MACO). The experience helped him grow as a musician.
In 2012, he invited various traditional musicians from Oaxaca and Veracruz to collaborate on Raíces third album. He took charge of producing the album and making the musical arrangements, which was a challenging but rewarding experience. Two years later, in 2014, the album was presented during a European Tour in several cities, including Paris, Brussels, Zurich, and Nürnberg. Tavo was proud to share his music and cultural heritage with new audiences in Europe, that warmly received them.
Throughout 2017, Tavo launched his new project Oktoloop , which combined electronic loops with the traditional sounds of the Jarana. He collaborated with several talented musicians, including Paul Cohen+, a saxophonist known for his work with the Mexican singer Lila Downs. Many other exceptional Oaxaca musicians also joined the project, bringing their unique talents and styles to the mix. With Oktoloop, Tavo continued to explore new musical frontiers and push the boundaries of traditional genres.
Tavo expanded his creative expression, producing his first video concepts and exploring visual art. He recorded and produced five original songs for his lates digital album titled Release The Beat.
Living in Oaxaca, a multicultural city, Tavo developed a love for Jazz music and began attending local jazz gigs. He was able to exchange knowledge with exceptional musicians who generously shared their musical wisdom.
This experience inspired Tavo to incorporate Jazz elements into his traditional music, leading him to explore new sound and write his own compositions. In early days of 2021, he record the album Grandmasters with some of his colleagues, friends and musical heroes.
I feel very lucky to have people that I genuinely considered to be my favorite musicians as part of the Grandmasters album; like the one and only saxophonist, and recently Grammy Wining Award, Arodi Martinez, the creative and distinctive bass player Jorge Gamboa and the magnificent drummer Emanuel Carrera.
TAVO TIXU
In 2021, Tavo took a big step and moved with his family to Nürnberg, Germany with the sole purpose of fully expressing himself and his love for his artistic journey. A journey that has led the multitalented Mexican, to keep evolving. Living in Nürnberg has given him the opportunity to explore new musical ideas and collaborate with other talented musicians.
In 2023, Tavo Tixu releases his digital album ‘Grandmasters’,.
Last summer Tavo Tixu presented with great success ‘The Grandmasters’ album live in his hometown Oaxaca (MX), to an audience that received him warmly and full of emotion.
In 2024 Tavo Tixu is producing his first ‘Solo’ project that includes original arrangements of traditional songs of his Mexican Roots, and where he presents instruments like: The Jarana, The Requinto Jarocho and Leona the traditional bass from the Son Jarocho and more unreleased songs with his quartet.
Stay Tuned!.
