Then I left Bobby, and went to New York. And my first show was at the Blue Note, playing with Ray Barretto. And I also recorded with Barretto. My first work with Palmieri was when I was already studying Jazz at the City College in New York. I studied for about a year at the Music Conservatory here in Puerto Rico before I moved to New York. There I recorded with Tito Puente and also with Dizzy in the album To Diz with Love.
My first Tour with Dizzy was with his octet. The brass section was David Sánchez, Steve Turre and me. Ignacio Berroa was also part of the group.
When in New York I also worked with people outside the jazz Scene, like Talking Heads, Paul Simon, David Byrne, I recorded in soundtracks.
Jazzin: When did you listen jazz for the first time?
Charlie Sepulveda: Well, I was born in New York. And there you could listen and watch jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong on tv. And I admired him from back then.
Jazzin: Other early influences beside Louis Armstrong?
CS: CS:When I was already playing trumpet there was this guy in Caguas. He has a jazz collection and told me I got to listen to Lee Morgan, and Clifford Brown. From there I started to buy cds from Art Blakey, the Brecker Brothers, Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis.
Jazzin: When you came back to Puerto Rico?
CS: Around 1996. But I started my jazz Project, New Arrival, back in 1989. In my group were David Sánchez, Adam Cruz, Bassist Carlos Torres, Richie Flores. Ed Simon and Danilo Pérez also worked with me at the beggining. The concept was a Hard Bop Quintet but with congas. Influenced by people like Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, etc.