Firmly situated between the musical boundaries of Afro-Caribbean music and contemporary world dance rhythms, you find this band. This musical ensemble made their debut in 1999 at the popular Los Angeles Latin dance nightspot the Conga Room, bringing down the house with their fresh, hot sounds. In more recent performances, they have continued to overwhelm all of its audiences in both the West Coast and East Coast, having already performed at the renowned New York City nightclubs S.O.B's (Sounds of Brazil) and The Copacabana, receiving commendable reviews. The band's multiple lead elements, rich arrangements, and intense dynamics produce a powerful sound incredibly entertaining to the listener and extremely dance friendly.
The intensity of an R&B band blended with the sensuality of a salsa orchestra best describes the music and magic of this band. From their English lyric Salsa Romantica renditions like Lady to a beautiful tropical compositions, to the more sophisticated Cuban rhythms, this band excels with sheer professionalism.
To experience the fresh sounds of this band is to experience more than just Cuban flavored rhythms or World music tendencies, beyond Salsa, perhaps the true sound of the new millennium.
The band is led by the Cuban pianist/composer/arranger, a veteran musician who started playing the piano at age eleven, tutored by his grandmother in his native town of Caimaleros de Cuba. By age 16, he was working in Cuba as a musician, playing the piano as well as composing and arranging music.
In the early 1980s, the band leader joined one of the pioneering salsa bands of Los Angeles. During his association with this band, he created what was to become the first "Salsa Romantica" hit. He wrote an arrangement for the then popular Lionel Richie composition "Lady" with a sexy tropical beat, which made an impact on the dance scene from coast to coast. He followed that up by doing the same to the hit composition "Never Gonna Let You Co." starting a musical trend that lasted throughout most of the eighties.
The band is comprised of some of LA's best Latin musicians. The lead vocalist is a veteran salsa singer who worked with many international stars like Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and even with the British superstar band the Rolling Stones. A second lead vocalist is a young Puerto Rican singer and actor who has made L.A. his home while working on both his singing and acting career. Since his arrival in L.A. more than 5 years ago, he has been performing with several local salsa bands. Together they are one the most harmonious and exciting vocal ensembles of any band today.
Leading the percussion section of the band a master percussionist on timbales and traps. His credits include working with Latin jazz luminaries Mongo Santamaria and the Puerto Rican popular band Batacumbele, among others. Locally he has worked with the majority of LA's salsa and Latin jazz bands throughout the years. Completing the band's percussion section are local favorites on bongo and minor percussions and on conga. Adding the feminine touch to the band is extraordinary Japanese violinist. Heading the powerful brass section is a Cuban trombonist veteran who spent many years as a member of the popular Cuban band Los Van Van before settling in LA. The trumpet man of the band is another Cuban musician from the brass lines of lssac Delgado and other great Cuban bands. Rounding out the brass section on sax and flute is a connoisseur of the woodwind instruments.
