Trumpeter, composer, and producer Milena Casado is one of the freshest voices on the international jazz scene in recent years. The New York Times called her “a revelation” and Bandcamp named her one of the most promising voices in jazz, full stop.
Born in Spain, Casado has been based in New York for several years. Her debut album Reflection of Another Self (2025) features Terri Lyne Carrington, Brandee Younger, Kris Davis, and Kokayi, with guest appearances from Meshell Ndegeocello and Esperanza Spalding. You can hear traces of Miles and Wayne Shorter, or an early Esperanza Spalding — but at its core this is unmistakably her own, contemporary jazz. Dreamy layers of electronics, acoustic instruments, vocals, and spoken word swirl together in a deeply personal and unfiltered expression. Through it all runs Casado’s trumpet: at times delicate and emotionally raw, at times softly melodic.
As a bandleader, Casado has performed at North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Village Vanguard. This is her Fasching debut.
