Born in Los Teques Venezuela, Jose layo Puentes is an accomplished musician in a wide array of musical Styles. These include Classical, Jazz, Latin and Italian Popular Music. His intimate knowledge of instruments includes the Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass and Cuatro.

His orchestral experience includes, the Symphony orchestras of: "Sinfónica Venezuela", "Filarmónica de Caracas" and the "Simón Bolivar". With the "Simón Bolivar" he participated in the recording of five compact discs with the seal “Dorian” and also, realized tours to Holland, England, Paris, Spain and Japan. Layo also took part in the chamber orchestras “Jovenes Arcos”, “Camerata San Cristóbal” and “Camerata Barroca de Caracas”. From 1994 to 1998, He taught the members of the bass section of the “Táchira Symphony Orchestra" Venezuela.

Layo came to the United States on scholarship from Carnegie Mellon University in 2001 to continue his studies of acoustic bass. Anthony Bianco was his professor during his two years of study within the “Performance Residence Program”. In 2004 Layo won another scholarship for his studies of Artist Diploma in the University of Duquesne, concentrate in Jazz with the professor Jeff Mangone. In Pittsburgh, he has performed with the Orchestras of Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Altoona, Butler and Ohio Valley Symphony.

His ability in the electric bass, has allowed him to work with various ensembles of different styles. In Pittsburgh he founded the Latin Jazz quartet "Puro Queso", and from 2007 he is currently performing with the big jazz band “Swingtet 8”.

Layo has formed part of the musical productions of the Chartiers-Houston High School (Washington, PA), and Seton-La Salle Catholic High School (Pittsburgh, PA).

Along with his wide array of musical experiences, Layo is an avid percussionist and his repertoire includes maracas, congas, bongos and timbales. He is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian. Layo live and works as a freelance musician in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.