Bio: Along for the Ride is a group of musicians from Latin America and the United States that fuses jazz, bossa nova, samba, and other Latin genres. The band’s arrangements of standards and original compositions mirror this fusion, enriched by the beats, harmonies, and sensual cadences of the American jazz and the Brazilian samba. Its past festival performances include the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Day of the Dead Celebration, the Seabird Jazz Lounge, and the BB King’s club. The band also fosters the “Sin Mura-Jazz” dinner and concert summer events in the city of Long Beach. Along for the Ride recently released its album “Cromático” and is currently working on a second CD.
Instrumentation: Drums, Bass, Percussion, Piano, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Saxophone/Flute/Piccolo, (2) Lead Vocals
Bio: BombaChante is a collaboration of a new generation of top musicians from the L.A. area. Formed in 2003, BombaChante was born out of the Chicano music scene. Led by Ernesto Molina (East LA Sabor Factory) and fronted by lead vocalist Gabriel Gonzalez (Quetzal), they produce an explosive sound that is their trademark.
Instrumentation: Piano, bass, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timbales, congas, bongos, and lead and background vocals.
Bio: The Elliott Caine Quintet is influenced by Blue Note musicians, as well as Afrocuban rhythms. The group has performed nationally and internationally at the House of Blues, Playboy Festival, Jazz Bakery, Equinoxe Jazz Festival in Corsica, Atlas Festival in Istanbul and at numerous community festivals.
Instrumentation: Trumpet/flugelhorn, tenor saxophone, piano, bass, and drums. Larger group options: baritone and alto saxophone, conga drums and other percussion.
Number of musicians: 2-7 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: The Susie Hansen Band plays Afro-Cuban Latin jazz and salsa with Susie Hansen on jazz violin, a dynamic Latin rhythm section, vocals with Cubano singer George Balmaseda as "sonero" lead vocalist, along with a hot horn section led by trombonist and composer David Stout. They play Latin jazz, mambo, salsa, merengue, cha-cha-cha, charanga, bolero, samba and more.
Bio: Jose Caridad Hernandez, "Perico" was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and grew up in Havana. At the age of 7, he was attracted to playing congas after listening and watching the street rumberos. When Perico was 17 years old, he was recruited to play congas and sing coro with the new Conjunto Casino. Conjunto Casino was very popular in the 1950's and played regularly at the Capri Hotel. After immigrating to the U.S., he has been fortunate to have worked with many well know artists such as Lalo Schiffrin, El Chicano, Charo, Johnny Martinez and Poncho Sanchez.
Instrumentation: Congas/percussion, piano, bass, drums/timbales, clarinet/flute, trumpet, trombone, and vocals.
Number of musicians: 5-8 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: The iliana Rose Band performs music steeped in Cuban rhythms and culture. The band is led by first generation Cuban American, iliana Rose, a classical, jazz and salsa piano player, percussionist, clarinetist and singer and includes world class musicians and Grammy award winners that inspire audiences to dance.
Bio: Little Willie G. and Thee East L.A. Philharmonic (previously Little Willie G. y Los Tamaleros) is a tribute to the late Romeo Prado, a childhood friend of Willie G. A Little Willie G. and Thee East L.A. Philharmonic concert is a celebration favorite songs from Thee Midniters and show-stopping original material, Latin Jazz/Salsa, The Great American Song Book Standards and Rhythm & Blues nuggets.
Bio: Louie Cruz Beltran is a dynamic entertainer excelling on congas and timbales, and performs original works and popular jazz, R&B and Latin standards. A favorite on the vibrant dance as well as concert circuit, Louie blends salsa, R&B and Afro Cuban rhythms, along with his soaring vocals and engaging personality.
Bio: Percussionist/arranger/recording artist Bobby Matos has spent a lifetime playing Afro Latin rhythms with many of the masters of the genre. His ensemble combines elements from Coltrane to Charanga to present a kaleidoscope of beautiful melodies and passionate rhythms.
Bio: Melena, an Afro-Cuban percussionist, leads a dynamic 10-piece band. Festival performances in the past include Jazz at Drew, African Village Festival, Brownsville Latin Jazz Music Festival and more.
Bio: The Henry Mora Orchestra is a Big Band that plays salsa music and Latin jazz. They have performed at major jazz festivals such as the Santa Barbara Jazz Festival, Hollywood Park Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival.
Instrumentation: 4 Trumpets, 5 trombones, 5 saxophones, electric piano, electric Bass, timbales, congas, bongos, and 2 Latin percussion/vocals.
Number of musicians: 11-21 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Orquesta Charangoa plays traditional Cuban dance rhythms of son, mambo, cha-cha-cha, merengue and danzon. A favorite in L.A. salsa dance circles, the group features flute, strings, three-part vocal harmonies and Cuban percussion. They have shared the stage with Los Van Van, Isreal Lopez Cachao, and Nestor Torres and performed at many festivals including Watts Towers Jazz Festival, The L.A. Salsa Festival, the L.A. Cuba Festival, the Oxnard Salsa Festival, and Dance Downtown at the Music Center.
Instrumentation: Flute, violins, piano, bass, congas, timbales, guiro, viola, and cello and vocals.
Number of musicians: 5-18 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Taumbu has been playing congas for 50 years throughout the world and worked with such musical greats as Archie Shepp, Joe Henderson, Horace Tapscott, and Los Tropicanos, among others. His ensemble creates an exotic atmosphere of rhythms from Africa to Cuba, Brazil to Haiti, and blends with a jazz horn section performing Taumbu compositions, traditional jazz and folk melodies.
