“(…) a guitarist of rare sensitivity.” – All About Jazz
“everything he plays is in service of the composition.” – Jazzwise
Orlando Molina is an award-winning Venezuelan guitarist, composer, arranger and producer based in Ireland whose work brings together contemporary jazz, Latin American musical traditions and cinematic storytelling through a distinctive and deeply personal artistic voice.
Equally fluent on nylon-string and electric guitar, Molina is recognised for lyrical playing, sophisticated craftsmanship and a strong narrative approach. His work has been praised by All About Jazz for its “virtuosity in service of feeling, not display,” while Jazzwise observed that “everything he plays is in service of the composition.”
Following an extensive career as a sideman and session musician, Molina released his acclaimed debut album, Autorretrato en Tres Colores (Self-Portrait in Three Colours), in 2025. Described by All About Jazz as “a poised and deeply lyrical debut” and by Jazzwise as “a classy debut,” the album established him as “a mature writer with a rich musical syntax” whose music reflects “a filmmaker’s meticulous attention to detail.” It was later voted Best Jazz Album in Ireland 2025, while the composition “Anda” received International Song of the Year from The Goo Magazine.
“The assured performance of an artist going places.” – All About Jazz
“A mature writer with a rich musical syntax, where South American folklore quietly underpins a contemporary jazz sensibility”
– All About Jazz
In 2026 he expanded his artistic vision with Antes, Siempre, a collection of original arrangements for voice and nylon-string guitar that reimagines iconic songs from Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil. Through these original arrangements, Molina uncovers new harmonic, emotional and narrative dimensions while remaining faithful to the essence of each song. Conceived as a celebration of Latin America’s shared musical heritage, the project has been described in the press as “a contemporary reinvention of the Latin American song.”
Molina has performed throughout Europe, the Americas and the Middle East at venues and festivals including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the National Concert Hall, Cork Jazz Festival, Bray Jazz Festival and Teatro Teresa Carreño. He has collaborated with artists including Wynton Marsalis, Rubén Blades, Gustavo Dudamel and David Bisbal, and has performed on several occasions for the former President of Ireland.
“A filmmaker’s meticulous attention to detail…in the way Molina tells his story via music”
– All About Jazz – Live review
Alongside his work as a recording artist, Molina composes music for film and audiovisual productions, bringing the same cinematic sense of narrative, colour and emotional depth that defines his work as a composer and performer. Whether composing original works or reimagining Latin America’s musical heritage, Molina creates music that is defined by narrative depth, emotional honesty and a commitment to connecting tradition with contemporary artistic expression.