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Tirso Duarte
Studied piano from an early age. A graduate in this instrument from the
Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. Though especially trained to perform symphonic
music, Tirso opted to dedicate his talent to popular dance music, excelling
through his formidable talent for improvisation and for certain figures, be
they idiosyncratic or syncopated. Began his artistic career as a keyboard
player and orchestrator for the Pachito Alonso Ensemble, where he replaced
pianist and violinist Luis “Achy” Lang in these roles. Has worked
successfully in significant bands: La Charanga Habanera, Pupy y los que Son
Son, and others. Founded his own orchestra in 2003 and still continues to
perform with them. In addition to being a pianist, arranger and excellent
sonero (both son singer and player), Tirso is one of the most brilliant
directors and composers of the new generation of Cuban musicians.
Leo Vera
Native of the eastern province of Guantánamo, where he began performing as a
singer in symphonic choirs, Leo Vera moved to the western province of Havana
in the 1980s to join Oshuni, a popular music orchestra, along with Jesús
”Aguaje” Ramos and Lazara López, the daughter of the great double bassist
Orlando “Cachaito” López. At the beginning of the 1990s, he founded, along
with David Calzado and others, the second generation of La Charanga Habanera
Ensemble, which had a nationwide impact. In 1994, Irakere under the new
stewardship of maestro Chucho Valdés, hired Leo, one of the singers in
fashion at that time, along with the great jazz singer Mayra Caridad Valdés.
With his personal style, the result of blending elements of son montuno,
timba and pop sung in Spanish, Leo Vera has currently become one of the
major musicians of his generation. Has successfully worked with other top
bands such as Klimax, Havana Ensemble, etc.
David Suárez
A graduate in clarinet and with a natural affinity for symphonic music,
David Suárez completely changed his direction when he discovered jazz,
teaching himself all the saxophones and developing an expressive language,
totally opposed to what he had so far performed. An excellent improviser,
his style evokes great traditional musicians such as Benny Goodman and
Amadito valdes, Sr., with elements assimilated from other contemporary stars. Though he
usually works as a session musician, recording for different projects, Suárez is also plays
as a member of top bands such as La Constelación, Banda JB, etc.
Tamara Castañeda
Studied piano and percussion through all levels at the music conservatoires
in Cuba. After beginning her career as a percussionist in the National
Symphonic Orchestra she discovered jazz to be her true passion, and made the
vibraphone her first instrument (rarely played by women). After much study
and dedication, she achieved amazing success in the Jo-jazz Competition for
young jazz performers. Since 2002, she has led her own AfroCuban Jazz
quartet. Has worked with maestros Jorge Reyes, Chucho Valdés and Leo Brower,
among others.
Dave Alfaro
He is probably the best pianist of popular music and Afro-Cuban jazz of his
generation. Composer, arranger and band leader, he has worked since his
early youth with many of the great Cuban producers, from José Luis Cortés to
Joaquín Betancourt until founding his own studio in 2001 where he makes
independent productions for young artists. A musician with a high level of
learning, he has created a very personal style that blends elements from the
playing of pianists Peruchín Justiz, Lili Martínez and Rubén González with
those of great contemporary jazz performers such as Chucho Valdés, Danilo
Pérez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Michel Camilo. Several of his compositions have
won national and international awards. Dave Alfaro, an outstanding performer
of European music of the Romantic Age, is also one of Cuba's finest
interpreters of Liszt and Chopin.
Luis Lang
Luis “Achy” studied violin and viola from a very early age, but his
ambitions to compose and arrange led him to improve his basic piano
education. A graduate of the National School of Art, he began his artistic
career in chamber quartets along with maestro José Antonio Sánchez, who
turned him into an excellent concert violinist. Has worked as violinist,
backing singer in popular groups, keyboard player, band leader and arranger
for many of the major producers and music directors from Cuba and abroad,
including Germán Velazco, José Luis Cortes and Amadito Valdés. Achy Lang is an
excellent composer of popular themes and has a fabulous ear for music.
Juan Carlos Marín
From a family of celebrated symphonic musicians, Juan Carlos Marín studied
trombone and dedicated himself to jazz and to the composition and
arrangement of popular music. With a singular, very syncopated style, he is
one of the leading session musicians in Havana today. Has successfully
worked with such notable bands as Klimax, Top Secret and PG. Along with Dave
Alfaro and David Suárez, he formed a trio, indispensable for any project. At present, he
is mostly occupied with producing young artists and the general production of jazz
recordings.
Tommy Lowry García
One of the most promising Cuban popular musicians in spite of his 21 years old.
Composer, trumpeter and musical producer, Tommy has been awarded many prizes
in his short career. Founder of the band Juego de Manos, very popular in
recent years has recently joined Diákara Band, an All Stars team formed by
the exIrakere band member Oscar Valdés. His improvising style resembles
that of Julito Padrón and Guajiro Mirabal; however, his ability to perform
in the high octave ranges, puts him on a level with Elpidio Chapottín and
Luis Alemañy.
Carlitos Sarduy
A graduate from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory at age 18, Carlitos Sarduy
quickly emerged as a new star in Cuban jazz. Awarded several prizes when a
student, and with special distinctions in symphonic and popular music
competitions, he began his career as a session musician and in different ad
hoc bands, organized around Havana¹s night clubs, he being also an excellent
performer of Creole music. He is currently performing with the great Cuban
diva, Teresita García Caturla. His style when playing jazz resembles Miles
Davis and Freddy Hubbard and when improvising in Cuban style, Carlitos is
reminiscent of Lázaro Herrera, Florecita and Julio Padrón.
Adel González
Native of Cienfuegos, Adel González is currently, along with Yaroldis Abreu,
the main conga player in Cuba, a performer with many resources, capable of
seamlessly assimilating all styles from traditional son à la Chocolate, to
Campeón's, through to up-tempo Afro-Cuban jazz, his favorite genre. Being a
child prodigy, Adel replaced, aged just 16, celebrated conguero Miguel
”Anga” Díaz, in Irakere. He is currently the top Cuban conga session
musician, recording most of the Cuban music sold in the market. Has
regularly worked with top directors, performers and producers Chucho Valdés,
Germán Velazco, Ibrahím Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Michel Camilo, Dave Murray,
Michel Legrand and others. His style blends solos played at amazing speed
with the concept of abakuá music, native to Efik, which moves in triplets
toward the beat in irregular intervals.
Antonio “Pacha” Portuondo
At 23, “Pach” is a musician whose presence is indispensable to any
recording. Balanced, virtuoso, his concept of rhythm is amazing. Very
disciplined, he practices for over 8 hours a day. Master of all the styles
of Cuban music, though jazz is his favourite genre. After his graduation
from the National Art School, his professional career began in the Isaac
Delgado Orchestra, after which he performed in other bands of the Timba
Movement (Rojitas and his Orchestra, Aramís Galindo, etc.), until he stayed
with the orchestra of the ex-Van Van singer Pedrito Calvo. In addition of
being a timbalero, Portuondo is an excellent drummer in all styles, and
masters all the instruments of Afro-Cuban percussion from its different
origins (Abakua, Yoruba, Congo, etc.).
Julito Padrón
Native of the westernmost province of Pinar del Río, he is an extraordinary
musician like others from the same region (the Rubalcabas, Polo Tamayo,
Aguaje Ramos, etc.). After graduating from the National Art School, he
joined the National Septet of Ignacio Piñeiro, led at that time by Carlos
Embales. Julito combines one of the best sounds in Cuban trumpet playing
with a great melodic facility, making him much in demand for hire as a
soloist for many groups. His ability to improvise under any sequence of
notes or tunes is spectacular. It is astonishing that he has never studied
harmony and this is an indication of his absolute harmonic instinct and his
good ear for music. Julito Padrón has being part of many of the best Cuban
and foreign bands, among them Irakere, Banda JB, David Murray’s Band, Michel
Petrucciani’s Quartet, and others.