Search Results for: Jazz Festival

Rick Arroyo

North America / USA / Las Vegas

Meet the 2008 Las Vegas Latin Music Awards Winner in two categories Best Latin Jazz Band and Best Latin Jazz Performer, Rick Arroyo. Him and the Latin Percussion Ensemble provides the very best in Steel Drums, Jazz, Latin Jazz ( Afro-Cuban and Brazilian ), Salsa for Dancing and contemporary Jazz.

Born in the Bronx, New York, Rick started playing professionally music when he was 15 years old. Began playing piano at the age of 9, drums at age 11, congas and vibraphone at the age of 14.

Composer, Arranger and Las Vegas Latin Awards Winner in 2 categories, Rick Arroyo appeared in The Coral Reef Lounge at Mandalay Bay every Monday night for four years with his 10 piece Latin dance band, The Latin Percussion Ensemble.

He has played at The Blue Note, The House Of Blues, The Rio, Aladdin, Wynn, Tropicana, Bally’s, Venetian, Stardust, Sahara, Circus Circus, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Monte Carlo, Gordon Biersch Brewery, The MGM Grand & MGM Grand Garden Arena, Bellagio’s, Caesar’s Palace, Mirage, Treasure Island, Orleans, Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas Hilton, Paris Hotel, Rancho Santa Fe Station, The Stardust, New York, N.Y. ( in the George Hamilton Cigar Lounge) Green Valley Station, Boulder Station, Sam’s Town, Alexis Park Resort, Stratosphere, Fremont Street, Riviera, Primadonna, Lady Luck, Avi Casino, Red Rock Casino, Renaissance Hotel, Suncoast Casino, Furnace Creek Inn, Four Seasons and many other locations in Los Angeles, Denver and in Las Vegas.

Rick has performed at several of The City Of Lights Jazz Festivals, The Clark County Amphitheatre, The Reed Whipple Community Center and other venues including radio and television Simulcast.

Rick has recorded and played with Esteban, Tito Puente Jr. Poncho Sanchez, Steve Rossi, Luis Conte, Bill Laster, Karen Briggs, Dick Mitchell, Dan St. Marsais, Artie Webb, Francisco Aguabella, Papo Conga, Dan Weinstein, David Romero, Joe Torres, Poncho Roman, Johnny Conga, Papo Rodriguez, Tata Palau, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, Ghalib Ghallab, Luis Miranda, Bobby Matos, Johnny Polanco, Pachito Alonso, Eddie Resto, Larry White, Hector Casanova, Dick Berk, Ramon Flores, Art Velasco… Shared the stage with The Yellow Jackets, Fatburger, The Rippingtons, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot, Carl Fontana Everrett Harp, Gilberto Santa Rosa and many others.

Rick Arroyo - Collash — Rick Arroyo – Collash

He has opened for Tito Puente, Willie Chirino, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jesus Alemany, Cubanismo, President Barack Obama, David Benoit, Richard Elliott, Michael McDonald, Donna Summers, The Beach Boys, Sammy Hagar and many others.

Rick Has performed for Jenny Jones, Maurie Povich, Oscar Goodman, Shelly Berkley, Chip Maxfield, Senator Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Monte Rock, Joe Cortez, Robin Leach, Oscar De La hoya and many other celebrities.

Latin America – January 2018

Oscar Rojas Oscar Rojas has 54 years of musical career full of passion, rhythm and flavor

Oscarcito Rojas and his unmistakable lump.

In Venezuela, during the years 53-54, there were cold and humid nights in the home of the Rojas Mendoza Family, located in a high area of the Pastora of beautiful Caracas, there the furniture that was outside would wake up damp, particularly a child’s chair with a colonial design, which had the back and seat made of cattle leather, which when heated by the heat of the sun became warm like the leather of a coastal drum.

That is when the restless child Oscar, barely 7 years old, discovered the sounds produced by that cured leather and began that love relationship with percussion without realizing that this would be his life; his livelihood; his passion; his everything.

Oscar Rojas has 54 years of musical career full of passion, rhythm and flavor

He also devised a pair of congas with two milk cans of different sizes, and thus achieve different sounds in his new instrument.

By the 70s, being a talented young man and wanting to earn his own living, Oscar bought a motorcycle to work as a messenger. Unfortunately, he had an accident on it, which led to his resignation from the company. With the money he generated from the liquidation, he bought a drum kit that belonged to the illustrious Pavo Frank. This is how his foray into rock began.

Later, due to the fractures he suffered in the motorcycle accident, he could not continue playing drums, but he got involved in percussion without a drumstick, which is to say, by hand, and he started playing congas.

Óscar Eduardo Rojas Mendoza is one of the most beloved and respected conga players in the country. He is the third of five siblings (Jaime; Yolanda; Óscar; Freddy and Leibia), son of Óscar Benito Rojas (musician and cabinetmaker) and Cira de los Santos Mendoza (dressmaker).

Loved by all his family, especially by his sons Gabriel ☦️ Osduare☦️ and Enrique; and his granddaughters Gabriela and Daniela.

Familia Rojas Mendoza: Liebia, Freddy, Oscar, Yolanda y Jaime

Born in Caracas on October 18, 1946, he began his musical career in 1970 with Ramón Hernández, continuing with a trail of figures such as: Pablo Schneider, Vytas Brenner, Victor Cuica, Oscar Maggi, Soledad Bravo, Lilia Vera, Frank Hernández (El pavo Frank), Oscar D’Leon, Chuchito Sanoja, Professor Juan Carlos Núñez, Alfredo Naranjo.

He has participated in the best Jazz festivals in the world and in the country such as the Memphis in May International Festival (Tennessee), Varadero International Festival (Cuba), V International Festival of Montreal (Canada), Festival D’te de Québec (Canada), 10 International Festival of Montreal (Canada), Mar de Plata Jazz Festival (Argentina), Curacao International Festival where he was invited by the great saxophonist Paquito D’ Rivera, in the Venezuela Jazz Festival, in the 4 Caracas Jazz Festivals, in the Jazz Festival in El Hatillo editions IV, V and VII, and in festivals in the interior of the country.

He was an active founder of salsa groups such as Oscar D’Leon, where he participated in the recording of the first 3 albums, the group Caribe Libre, Gerardo Lugo’s Incorregibles, Alfredo Naranjo’s El Guajeo, Nano Grant’s Ensemble ll, Pavo Frank and his Orchestra. He was also part of the jazz groups Oscar Maggi (Macoya), Pedrito López, Otmaro Ruiz and Víctor Cuica.

Among the national and foreign artists he has accompanied are: Trino Mora, Chucho Avellanes, Mirtha Pérez, Estelita del Llano, María Rivas, Nancy Ramos, Nancy Toro, Cheo Feliciano, Ted Cordón, Paquito de Rivera, Eddie Sansson, Aldemaro Romero, Chuchito Sanoja, Jimmy Bosch, the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra, the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas, among others. He was the founder of the La Calle Group and the Ensemble de la Calle, ReNueve (rock group), Negros and Aparte.

He currently works as a percussionist for Maigualida and his Ensemble. He also rehearses every Wednesday at Juan Sebastián Bar “El Templo del Jazz y La Salsa” with the new Ensamble de la Calle.

He has been in a musical career for 54 years, full of passion, rhythm and flavor.

Oscarcito Rojas y su mazacote inconfundible

Research Sources:

Djane. Shina Rojas

Jaime Rojas

Lutier: Freddy Rojas

Also Read: Djane Shina Rojas a Passion Turned into Reality

Orestes Vilato

North America / USA / New York

Orestes Vilato. Cuban Multi-Percussionist.

Cuban multi-percussionist, Orestes Vilato, is undoubtedly one of the greatest figures in the history of the Cuban drums known as timbales.

During the fifties, the Vilato family moved to New York, salsa capital of the world, where young Orestes would rise to fame as an innovator of his beloved traditional instrument, “Los Timbales”. While living in New York for 25 years, Orestes was intimately involved with many musical organizations that played seminal roles in shaping the course of Latin Music around the world.

Among the many groups were: Fania All Starts (founding member), Ray Barretto, Tipica 73 (founding member), Los Kimbos (founder-director), Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Rivera, Joe Cuba, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, La Lupe, Celia Cruz, Rolando La Serie, Chico O’Farril, Lionel Hampton, Los Chavales de Espana, Cal Tjader.

Other artists with whom he has recorded or worked include: Winton and Bradford Marsalis, Paco De Lucia, Whitney Houston, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Cachao, Andy Garcia, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Paquito de Rivera, Dave Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, John Santos, Rebeca Mauleon, Giovanni Hidalgo and Raul Rekow.

Orestes Vilato - Photo — Orestes Vilato – Photo

In 1981, Mr. Vilato moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where he still resides with his family. From 1980 to 1989 he recorded and toured with the renowned Carlos Santana Band.

Orestes was nominated for a Grammy in 1995 (Latin Jazz category) for his CD, Ritmo Y Candela With Patato and Changuito. In 2009 his solo CD Its About Time was nominated for a Latin Grammy.

Orestes has recorded several movie sound tracks that include: Our Latin Thing, Mambo Kings, Carlito’s Way, Steal Big Steal Little, The Bird Cage, Dance With Me, Just A Ticket, Things To Do In Denver and The Lost City.

He has been a special guest artist in multiple Jazz Festivals around the country and Puerto Rico including the San Jose Jazz Festival. He has performed and taught at numerous music conservatories including The Berkeley School of Music, UCLA, Fresno University, Standford University as well as many conservatories overseas.

Orestes was given tribute at Yerba Buena Garden, Monterey and San Francisco Jazz Festivals.

Orestes’ style is one of the most imitated and emulated among recording-performing artists.

Luis Medina

Norte America / USA / San Francisco

Luis Medina, Con Sabor

During his tenure as the KPFA 94.1 FM Music Director, Luis Medina was a staunch advocate for the station music programs. His vast knowledge of different genres of music kept the music programming strong and relevant.

Through his direction, the station was recognized as a leader in innovative World Music programs that bolstered the genre’s popularity in the market. He also expanded the diversity of voices on-air by placing more women, Latinos and people of color as program hosts and producers.

Luis raised the visibility of the radio station through successful event sponsorships, including contract negotiation, live event marketing and promotion with the following partners: Live Nation, Another Planet Entertainment, SF Jazz, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s Jazz Clubs, Cal Performances, Monterey Jazz Festival, Stern Grove Festival, SF Flamenco Society, La Bohemia Productions, Slims/Great American Music Hall, Bimbos 365 Club and others.

Luis has tirelessly contributed to the station’s on-air fundraising campaigns as well as voice overs for public service announcements and in-house station promotions. He currently continues to work behind the scenes as music consultant for the station.

In his radio program Con Sabor, he has interviewed hundreds of renowned artists and musicians. His interview with the legendary Israel Lopez “Cachao” is featured in the PBS documentary film “Cachao, Uno Mas” produced by actor/producer/director Andy Garcia.

Luis was Entertainment Director for MECA (Mission Economic and Cultural Association) from 1986-1998. He managed the Cinco De Mayo, Carnaval San Francisco and the 24th Street Festival De Las Americas events during his tenure, coordinating programming for up to 3 simultaneous stages. He featured varied music from Rock to Brazilian to Salsa, as well as DJs and entertainment.

He was also an Entertainment Consultant and Director for SFCAT (San Francisco Cultural Arts and Traditions) from 2011 to 2012, which was organizing the SF Carnaval.

Other events and clients he has worked with include The San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Museum, the NFL Super Bowl Party, U.S. Navy Fleet Week Events, Cultural Music Productions, A.S.R.P. Productions, Terry Pimsleur & Associates, Salsa Dulce Productions, ARAM Productions and San Francisco State University.

Awards

The Armando Peraza Award for community service to the Latin and Music community, Voices Of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benefit, 2012
Certificate Of Honor, City & County Of San Francisco for many contributions to Latin Music in radio and media as Music Director and Radio Producer/Host 2010.
Certificate Of Recognition, California Legislature Assembly for contributions to Latin Music through his work as radio host, producer and DJ 2010.
Achievement in Outstanding Lifetime Service in Radio – Western Region Puerto Rican Council 2008
Achievement In Latin Music Promotion-Lifetime Award-San Francisco Salsa Congress 2001
Espíritu De La Música Latina Award of the Marta Martinez Fund for Radio Programming excellence and positive contribution to the Northern California Latino Community, Marin County Foundation 1999

All this information was provided from Luis Medina official website http://luisemedina.com/