Bio: Aloe Blacc performs original songs that evoke soul music of the 60s and 70s fused with a hip hop sensibility. His band is made up of versatile music lovers with a repertoire of various styles including jazz, rock, Latin, Brazilian, R&B, soul reggae and hip hop.
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: Aztec Stories incorporates musical performance with spoken word and interactive audience participation to share the culture of ancient Mexico and the indigenous world of the Mexika (meh-shee-ka)/Aztecs. The stories, ballads, and narratives presented in this program are all true and based on documented accounts. Many handmade reproductions of indigenous instruments are used and shared throughout the presentation.
Instrumentation: Tlapitzalli (flutes), huilacapitztli (ocarinas), chichtli (whistles), ayacachtli (shakers and rattles), tzcahauztli (rasps), bubalak (Mayan gourd water drums), gourd trumpet, ayayotls (shakers wrapped around the ankles), atecocolli (conch shell trumpet), teponaztli (two-toned wood drum), ayotl (turtle shell drum), frog shell (produces the sound of a frog), singing stones (oldest instrument in the world), chikauaztli (rain stick), xiuhkoatl (fire stick - makes the sound of crackling fire), and guitar.
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: Cabo Verde Cretcheu plays the traditional music from Cape Verde – the islands 350 miles west of Dakar, Senegal in Africa. The range of material includes the up-beat “Coladeiras” and soulful “Morna” ballads as well as the Mazurka, Bolero, Batuque, Samba and contagious Caribbean and Zouk rhythms. Cabo Verde Cretcheu features the soulful Dilma Barros, a native of the city of Mindelo, Cabo Verde (known for its rich musical heritage and world music diva Cesaria Evora) and Mitchell Long who is well known in World, Brazilian and jazz idioms.
Instrumentation: vocals, guitar, bass, drums, violin, and the cavaquinho (Cape Verdean ukulele) piano, saxophone/clarinet
Number of Musicians: 2 - 6 Additional Equipment: P.A. System
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: Victor Cisneros & Alteza is a Latin pop group that combines groove-based rhythms with a "Chicago jazz-like" horn section. They perform original compositions in both English and Spanish.
Instrumentation: Saxophone, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, vocals and Latin percussion.
Number of musicians: 4-6 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Updating and reinvigorating the lively son jarocho music of Veracruz, Mexico, Conjunto Jardín specializes in presenting this style to a broad audience and features the only known female requinto player. "Instantly captivating, generating dancing in the aisles- a superb example of the manner in which traditional music and dance continue to have the power to reach out and gather in new, receptive audiences." - Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
Instrumentation: 2 Jaranas (regional guitars), 1 requinto (regional lead guitar), bass, cajon, keyboards, various regional percussion (pandero, quijada) and vocals.
Bio: Conjunto Los Pochos performs Conjunto music (also known as Conjunto Tejano or Musica Norteña) comprised of polkas, waltzes, boleros, cumbias and other danceable rhythms. Deeply rooted in the Conjunto tradition, they play old standards as well as new original music.
Instrumentation: "Full band/Quartet: Button accordion, bajo sexto, bass, drums and vocals. Trio: Button accordion, bajo sexto, guitarron or upright bass and vocals."
Number of musicians: 3-4 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Cusuco performs traditional Latin American music from across the Americas, singing and playing folk styles to bring alive the joy, beauty, and humor of Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, the Andes, early California, and Cuba.
Bio: Fernando Fraustro’s band is an acoustic group that combines a variety of rhythmic styles including Son Cubano, Bossa Nova, funk and rock. Fraustro, originally from Tampico, México, studied music at the Fermatta Institute of Music in México City and has performed in México, Cuba, and Spain.
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: INCA offers the music of the Incas from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and northern Argentina and Chile, from the Hispanics of coastal Peru, the Afro-Peruvians from the southern coast in Peru, and from the natives of the Bolivian and Peruvian Amazon jungle. INCA features a vast array of ethnic instruments from the Andean region including strings, percussion and winds, as well as vocals.
Instrumentation: Wind instruments from the Andes: quena, quenacho, zampoña, basto, toyo, etc. String instruments: classical guitar, charango, ronroco and mandolin. Percussion instruments: bombo, cajón, quijada, chakchas and cowbell. Vocals.
Number of musicians: 3-9 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: Performing for more than 20 years all over the world, La Palabra presents a balanced repertoire of original songs and covers in the genres of salsa, meringue, cha-cha-cha, charanga, and mambo. They have coined their unique tropical dance beat “salsa romantica.”
Instrumentation: Congas, bongos, drums/timbales, trumpet, trombone, alto sax, flute, guiro (traditional percussion instrument made from a hollowed-out gourd), keyboard, bass, violin and vocals.
Bio: La Santa Cecilia exemplifies the modern-day creative hybrid of Latin, Rock and World music. The six-member group combines up-tempo Pan American rhythms like cumbia, bossa nova, rumba, boleros, tango, jazz, rock and klezmer music to create their distinctive sound.
Bio: Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, the members of Los Pinguos have been entertaining Los Angelinos for the past six years with their eclectic mix of reggae, flamenco, samba, cumbia, and Argentine folk music. From performing on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, they have worked their way up to performing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Downtown Los Angeles for the annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration.
Instrumentation: Spanish guitars, cajon (Peruvian box drum), Cuban tres guitar, electric bass guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drums, and percussion.
Number of musicians: 5-10 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. System
Bio: Founded and directed by trumpet player Cindy Shea in 1999, the all-female Mariachi Divas are continuously making big waves on the Los Angeles music scene. Mariachi Divas is a unique, multi-cultural ensemble representing the true flavor of Los Angeles, and over the years has been represented by women of: Mexican, Cuban, Samoan, Argentinian, Columbian, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, Swiss, Japanese, Honduran, Peruvian, and Anglo decent. Cindy Shea states, "Music is a way of uniting our cultural backgrounds." Performing all over Southern California and North America, they have been featured in a variety of venues and are currently the official mariachi of Disney in Anaheim.
Instrumentation: 1-3 Trumpets, Up to 6 Violins, Guitarron, Vihuela, 1-3 Guitas (Vocalists), Congas/Percussion, 1-2 Flutes
Number of musicians: 10-15 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
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: A native of Italy, Marco Missinato maintains an extensive repertoire of classic Italian and American standards, Latin and Portuguese ballads and dance tunes, in addition to his original romantic and pop songs.
Instrumentation: Vocals, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitar.
Number of musicians: 1-2 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
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: Monte Carlo 76 merges the sweet sounds of West Coast soul with the vivid stories of ranging from love to gentrification, weaving together the harsh and beautiful tales that form the experience of living in the barrio.
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: Based in Los Angeles for more than twenty years, Yari More creates a sound that blends various Latin rhythms such as salsa, cumbia, merengue, cha-cha, and bolero. Playing popular Latin music and original songs, this group specializes in festivals, concerts, and private events.
Bio: Naked Soul performs original compositions by Italian vocalist Marco Missinato. With lyrics in English, Spanish and Italian, the music combines classical and jazz elements with an international flavor.
Instrumentation: Vocals, piano/keyboards, drums, percussion, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, trumpet/flute, and cello.
Number of musicians: 4-8 Additional Equipment Available: P.A. system
Bio: As an Argentine country-folk counterpart to the urban tango, "folclore" evokes the pure sounds of a music deeply rooted in South American culture. This trio delivers a fresh and vibrant version of a beautiful collection of traditional Argentine songs.
Bio: Performing since 1994, Ollin plays an original and eclectic fusion of music that encompasses Latin roots, klezmer riffs and Irish gigues, all done with a rock and roll edge. Ollin, Aztec for movement/earthquakes, comes out of East LA and brings the energy and vibrancy of Chicano music to their performances.
Bio: Together since 1988, Opa Opa performs an array of Latin music from salsa to Latin jazz to cumbia to name just a few. Their musical talent has accompanied stars such as Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.
Instrumentation: Trumpets, trombones, piano, bass, timbales, congas, bongo and vocals.
Number of musicians: 9-12 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: Recording artist Herman Rodriguez is a singer/songwriter of Latin ballads influenced by pop, mariachi, and regional Mexican music. He strives to create music that speaks to social causes and enhances the relationships between people of all ages.
Instrumentation: Electric Guitar, Electric Piano, Base Guitar, Trumpet, Trombone and Congas
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.
Bio: Stefani Valadez is a singer, guitarist, percussionist and songwriter performing ancient and contemporary love songs from the Spanish, North African, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, Irish and American blues traditions. She and her band of seasoned musicians play instruments from around the world.
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