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Timbalero Manolito Rodríguez Debuts a Fresh Sound as Musical Director of La Zónica

On Friday, March 27, 2026, Manolito Rodríguez and La Zónica performed at La Respuesta, a unique venue a hall where diverse musical genres blend, creating an atmosphere where a dance concert serves as the artists’ formal introduction to the public. The ensemble has been working together since August 2025, when the new orchestra was formed under the leadership of the virtuoso timbalero.

Timbalero Manolito Rodríguez arrives with a renewed energy as musical director of La Zónica

When Manolito began assembling the group, he sought out songs that resonated with him, such as “Gente Luminosa” and “A Mi Medida.” He has also been working with unreleased compositions by Anthony García and Leni Prieto. La Zónica marks a new chapter for the timbalero as the director of his own orchestra. Nevertheless, they continue to perform hits from Manolito’s previous era, now brought to life by the vocal front: Ángel Pomales, Joelis Crespo, and Gabriel Cotto. Manolito has promised to step back from singing to focus entirely on his instrument and musical direction.

The director of La Zónica hopes the dance concert at La Respuesta on March 27 marked a turning point for the band. “It’s an event we’ve been working on with great intensity,” Manolito says with enthusiasm. With energy and conviction, the timbalero adds: “I want to leave a legacy like El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, like Sonora Ponceña, like Roberto Roena’s Apollo Sound, or Willie Rosario’s band. I want people to say in 25 years, ‘Look, that’s Manolito’s La Zónica.’ It’s a long road, but it’s possible.”

As if that weren’t enough, a new line of Meinl Percussion instruments, inspired by the young Puerto Rican timbalero, is now available.

The new line of instruments - from Meinl Percussion - inspired by Manolito — The new line of instruments – from Meinl Percussion – inspired by Manolito

A Prodigy’s Journey

The career of this salsa virtuoso began early. Manolito Rodríguez is a percussionist, musical director, singer, and dancer. While he was still in middle school, piano genius Papo Lucca invited him to record on the 45th-anniversary album, Homenaje a Tres Grandes del Teclado. “At that time, I was just entering the Escuela Libre de Música; I was in ninth grade,” the timbalero recalls. Four years later, upon graduating from the Ernesto Ramos Antonini ELM in San Juan, Manolito earned the timbalero chair with Sonora Ponceña on Papo Lucca’s recommendation. “Don Quique” accepted him, and the young musician remained with the group for four years.

Puerto Rico’s salsa stages watched Manolito Rodríguez grow up, flanked by musical institutions such as Sonora Ponceña, his now-colleague Willie Rosario, and Roberto Roena’s Apollo Sound.

His skill as a percussionist grew by leaps and bounds, and his versatility was tested on multiple fronts. In fact, his vocals were featured with the orchestra Del Sur al Norte, led by the renowned director, arranger, and producer, trumpet master Julito Alvarado. “Julito was the first one who gave me the opportunity to record as a singer,” Manolito acknowledged in an interview.

Manolito Rodríguez and La Zónica performed at La Respuesta, a different venue.

Thanks to his interactions with salsa veterans since childhood, Manolito served as musical director for various youth projects along the way. This included Revolución Juvenil in high school and Manolito y su Trabuco, an orchestra that performed every Wednesday at El Doble Seis in Caguas.

Legacy and Discipline

According to Manolito himself now a music professor—he owes much of his career to the support of his mother and grandmother, who nurtured his musical interests and encouraged him to pursue formal training. Today, the instrumentalist considers himself a “music worker” who approaches his craft with respect and maturity.

His new orchestra, La Zónica, finds him with a different mindset: he wants to concentrate on the timbales and direction. He considers Master Willie Rosario—who treats him as a protégé one of his greatest influences as a timbalero-bandleader. Rodríguez shares that when he read the authorized biography of “Mr. Afinque” (Willie Rosario, El Rey del Ritmo by researcher Robert Téllez) and saw himself mentioned, he was overcome with emotion. “My eyes welled up. I didn’t expect it,” he says. “Since I started taking things seriously, Willie has always mentored me.”

Despite his vast experience, the young musician felt deeply blessed to be chosen to fill in for the leader of “the band that delights” (la banda que deleita) on several occasions, and to perform at the Willie Rosario Centenary concert at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. “I feel very fortunate because Willie is a very serious person, someone highly respected in the world of salsa with an impeccable career. He is a true role model.”

Following the passing of Roberto Roena, Rodríguez was also entrusted with the legacy of the Apollo Sound—a testament to the confidence and solidity he projects despite his youth. “Wow, yes. It was an honor,” he recalls nostalgically. “Roberto was the first person to give me a big break in Puerto Rico,” referring to his participation in the 1998 Día Nacional de la Zalsa at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón.

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Manolito Rodríguez returned to the Día Nacional de la Zalsa as the timbalero and director of La Zónica, a project that debuted last November during Sonora Ponceña’s 70th-anniversary concert. The current lineup includes: Airemyelisse Díaz (bass), Reinaldo Burgos (piano), Savier Díaz (congas), Manolito Rodríguez (timbales/director), Carlos Arroyo (bongo), Víctor “Yuca” Maldonado (baritone sax), Efraín Martínez (tenor sax), Rubén Díaz (trumpet), and Jan Santana (flugelhorn).

Manolito is well aware that “people pay to be entertained,” as he mentioned in a Zoom interview, and he views himself as a craftsman of music. He feels fortunate to be a full-time musician. “That’s what keeps me grounded. I get paid to make music. I am a music worker with great aspirations who trusts his talent and knows he must stay focused.”

Also Read: Sessions from La Loma brings together salsa fans from all over the world in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rican bandleader and musician Diana Sosa talks about her many projects in Nashville, Tennessee

We had a wonderful and very nice conversation with Puerto Rican percussionist, timbalera, conga player, and cuatro player Diana Sosa, who kindly told us about all the projects she has in the pipeline. Her husband and bandmate, guitarist and vocalist Chuck Nelson, put us in touch with her so we could learn more about both the project they share and the one she has undertaken on her own.

Then these are the things the talented Puerto Rican shared with us on this warm Sunday before Easter.

Diana Sosa is playing — Diana Sosa is posing for the camera while playing the timbales

How Diana got into the world of music

Diana was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she began to love music and play, but not professionally yet. She was just experimenting with some traditional instruments of her homeland, such as the Puerto Rican cuatro, which she even studied with a private teacher.

At the age of 39, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she finally got her first big opportunities in music, and the background she brought for years helped her a lot. It all started with a short rehearsal she was invited to, and from there, she has done nothing but prove what she is really made of.

Of course, she keeps studying and preparing to improve every day. When she is not learning to play with fellow musicians like John Santos, she is taking online courses to solve any doubts she may have.

Diana’s first opportunity with The Bicho Brothers

The first serious group that gave Diana the opportunity to develop professionally—and with which she keeps to playing to this day is The Bicho Brothers, a classic rock band whose members really appreciated the contribution provided by Diana. For this reason, it is she who brings that Latin flavor, the product of her heritage and years of training in these genres.

Something that really attracted the audience was that she was the only woman in the group and, incidentally, she played the timbales, which was uncommon back then. In addition, she added atypical sounds to certain well-known songs, which was also remarkable.

Diana Sosa and the rest of the Bicho Brothers — The Bicho Brothers from left to right: Jeff Krinks (guitar and vocals), Ron Krasinski (drums), Diana Sosa (timbales, congas, percussion, and Puerto Rican cuatro), Chuck Nelson (guitar and vocals), and Kenny Zarider (keyboards and vocals)

Another important personality who encouraged her to follow this route was the great producer Bill Cuomo, who told her she was very good at playing but needed to improve her technique. Twenty years later, it can be said that she took him at his Word seeing all she has achieved since then. From that point on, there have been many other projects and opportunities that make her very happy and keep her fulfilled.

Soul Sacrifice

Soul Sacrifice is a Santana tribute band founded in 1969 that has won a high reputation in Nashville by becoming one of the best tributes to Santana to date. The mix of familiar melodies and infectious rhythms they play at every show transports audiences to the biggest classics of the legendary Latin rock group created by Carlos Santana.

The band also includes some of the same members of The Bicho Brothers, such as the cases of Diana and Chuck due to all the years they have spent playing together, but including Cuban musician John Santos. He plays a fundamental role in making people feel they are listening to the original Santana rather than an imitation, which is why both he and Diana are key to the band’s performance.

Diana’s Mambo Maniacs

Diana also has her own project, which she decided to call Diana’s Mambo Manics. This Latin music group was founded in the early summer of 2025 as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. In that time of year, there are always many festivals dedicated to Hispanic and Latin music in the United States and around the world, so Diana and a group of musicians she had been in contact with for some time took the opportunity to play wherever they were able to make themselves known.

Among some of the musicians in the band we can mention John Santos as singer and timbalero, whose presence is essential at every show. The group also includes conga player Josvany Cordero, bassist Isoel Villareal, pianist Kenny Zarider, trumpeter Joe Mercado, and trombonist Huge Lindsay.

The main difference between this band, The Bicho Brothers and Soul Sacrifice is that it plays exclusively Latin music, but of the great artists in the 1950s and 1960s who performed at the Palladium Ballroom, the Copacabana, El Corso, Chez José & 3 and 1, among many others. Diana feels that, to a certain extent, she pays tribute to her parents, who used to go dancing and enjoying these rhythms to some of these places in their youth.

However, not all are covers. She is about to release an original song featuring Puerto Rican cuatro player Prodigio Claudio, but she did not have the details to share with us yet.

Diana and Tito Puente Jr. — Diana Sosa Playing with Tito Puente Jr.

Dominican bandleader and musical director Orlando Santana talks about La Makina and his career in general

Orlando Santana, the bandleader and musical director of La Makina, has made room in his busy schedule filled with studio recordings to talk about the most interesting topics of his career and, of course, the group that has given him more fame.

The Dominican artist has built an interesting career that led to his aforementioned group, which was founded in Borinquén (the name given to Puerto Rico before the arrival of the Spanish). Naturally, the genre by which La Makina is best known is merengue, implying that the Dominican Republic is still present in mind and heart.

Orlando with his saxophone — Orlando Santana with his saxophone

Orlando’s Beginnings in Music

Orlando started his story by saying that music had a significant presence in his life because his father, Santiago Santana, was a music teacher who taught in their own home. He taught all types of instruments such as the saxophone, trumpet, flute, piano, bandoneon, clarinet, guitar, and many more. Additionally, he also knew about harmony, solfège (sung), and solfège (spoken).

This led to his son learning to play instruments at a very young age and being interested in this way of life.

Orlando’s Music Education

When Orlando moved to Miami, he took private piano lessons for a while, just as his father did with his students, but it was from Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz whom he really learned. He attended their church and took advantage of his visits to receive some piano lessons from Richie, while his brother David Santana, who was already a veteran musician, bought him his first saxophone and taught him many other tricks of the trade.

Early experiences as a paid professional

As for the beginning of his professional practice, Orlando, as a 15-year-old boy, started with the orchestra Dioni Fernández y El Equipo, from which the great Sergio Vargas emerged. In fact, they entered together a television channel (Color Visión, Channel 9) on the same day in Santo Domingo. This group is still active today, and Sergio Vargas’s own brother, Caqui Vargas, is currently part of it.

Bobby and Orlando — Bobby Valentín and Orlando Santana

Some time later, he had the opportunity to perform along with Wilfrido Vargas, which he describes as an incredible experience, since Vargas’s orchestra had a very challenging repertoire and he had to prepare himself very well in order to play along with the merengue exponents and his musicians. Orlando came on as a substitute replacing his brother on some tours, where he showed he had the capacity to keep up with their pace and improvise just like Wilfrido did so with ease on stage.

Among the most important things this time taught him, the artist mentioned discipline, the importance of always practicing his instruments, and a permanent focus on what he wanted to achieve. Another thing he mentioned was the significant improvement in his ability to improvise and release new material constantly.

He also learned a lot from Toño Rosario, Peter Cruz, Cuco Valoy, Ramón Orlando, and Elías Santana (Orlando’s first cousin and trumpeter for Conjunto Quisqueya). With all of them, he also came to play both merengue and other genres.

How La Makina Band was founded

Orlando met Fernando Colón in Toño Rosario’s orchestra, while he was a saxophonist, and Fernando entered as a bassist. At the same time, Orlando was writing some arrangements for Los Sabrosos del Merengue, and as it so happens that Fernando was also working with them, so they were always in constant contact.

When Orlando decided to found an orchestra, it was he who called him and accepted his proposal. That was when both artists founded La Makina in 1996, though the process started a year earlier when they set up a company for that purpose.

Orlando and Rafael — Orlano Santana and Rafael Ithier from El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

His Role as producer and director

Regarding his role as producer and director of La Makina, he points out the importance of preparing and studying to exercise these areas of music. In his case, he had already spent many years working on important record productions, including those he did together with his cousin Cesar Cuesta, with whom he formed a small orchestra that covered songs by very famous bands. He created his own musical arrangements for these new versions to differentiate them from the original songs and wrote scores for other musicians.

In addition, he served as music producer for Grupomanía and wrote songs for artists such as Toño Rosario, Elvis Crespo, Oscarito, Manny Manuel, and many others.

Current Members of La Makina

Of the original members of La Makina, the only one left is Orlando himself, but he has been joined by other equally-talented musicians, including Carlitos Rivera and his own son, Anderson Santana.

Orlando and Johnny — Orlando Santana and Johnny Ventura in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Current projects

This conversation had been delayed a few times due to how busy Orlando was in the studio working on new music, so obviously we had to ask what it was all about.

He told us that he and the rest of the group were working on a remastering of La Makina’s greatest hits, but with other arrangements and a fresh color. They also plan to include songs recorded by other artists but written by Orlando for them. He did not want to say what these would be so they would be a surprise for the audience.

Salsa in Berlin: The Best Clubs for Latin Music

Europe / Germany / Berlin

Salsa hit Europe like a pandemic, spreading from the jazz clubs in the big cities and hitting Germany in the 1980s. No wonder Salsa found so many followers – the Latin beats get directly under the skin and the rhythm moves hips and hearts just by itself. There is a sense of freedom in the music, and the widespread habit of Salseros asking Salseras for a dance makes it a piece of cake to meet new people in a relaxed and unrestrained atmosphere.

Berlin is famous for its nightlife and the immense diversity of scenes on offer for all kinds of people, tastes, and styles. Hence, it goes without saying that Germany’s capital has a thriving Salsa scene. Every year in October, it finds its peak during the three-day Berlin Salsa congress with famous Salsa stars from all over the world and around 6,000 participants.

But Berlin wouldn’t be the nightlife capital if it didn’t have a Salsa party every night of the week. Here are the best of the best Salsa parties in town to get hips swinging.

Havanna

Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, Salsa-obsessed dancers can move their hips in Berlin’s leading Latino and Black music club Havanna. The parties are spiced up by a one-hour dance lesson beforehand and some instructed Merengue in between on up to four dance floors.

Table reservation: +49 (0) 176-216 77 012 | [email protected]

Schedules: Miércoles 21:00 | Viernes 22:00 | Sábado 22:00

Dirección: Hauptstraße 30, 10827 Berlín.
Havanna Berlin Photo 1

RED Ballroom

This wonderful location heats up the floor for Salseros every Tuesday and Saturday. There is a compulsory dance instruction session beforehand, and the parties are free and handy for a newcomer to Salsa. The size of the location and the attached restaurant give the parties a more intimate feeling and professional dancer Fernando Zapato is on hand to ensure the right Latin atmosphere for a party night.

Genthiner Straße 20 10785 Berlin – Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 3151 8618
Email: [email protected]

Clärchens Ballhaus

Clärchens’ Ballroom | (c) Clärchens Ballhaus

In an outstanding historical atmosphere, you can shake a leg every Monday. The so-called mirror hall is a secret tip in the Berlin club scene. Built in the late 1800s, the flair of the Wilhelminian era is still present in this location. Furthermore, it has a wonderful wooden dancing floor and is highly frequented by true Salseros in Berlin.

Auguststraße 24
Berlín
+49 30 2829295
@claerchens.ballhaus

Soda Club

Known for its immense parties, the Soda Club Berlin plays Latin and Cuban music every Sunday and Thursday. The four dance floors are impressive, and revelers can expect to find Mambo, Kizomba or Bachata DJs serving up an eclectic mix of these styles so dancers can switch things up throughout the night.

Address: Knaackstr.9710435 Berlin +49 30 44315155 +49 30 44315199
[email protected]

Beachmitte

Salsa parties at this location are organized by the Salsa dance school Cumbancha, which is located in Kreuzberg. They always draw in a huge crowd of Salseros and Salseras, where everyone kind of knows each other and which gives these parties a very familiar atmosphere, although the uninitiated should not be put off, these are friendly folks!

Caroline-Michaelis-Str. 8 10115 Berlin Tel. 030-4679 5997 Fax: 030-4140 8890

Mail: [email protected]

Monbijoupark

Monbijou Park | © Palickap/WikiCommonsThis is definitely the most beautiful location to dance in Berlin, although there is the small drawback that it is closed during the winter. That just heats the anticipation for the next spring, and, frankly, being outside in Berlin’s winter is a zany plan, even if you are dancing. So when winter starts to abate, and this open air location reopens its dance floor directly in front of the Bodemuseum on Museum Island, things start to swing. Even Tango and Swing lovers can enjoy their hobby; just visit their website for more details when they play which style of music.

The 2026 NAMM Show Took Center Stage as Historic Gathering Celebrating the Future of Global Music Industry

2026 Show Marked 125-Year Anniversary of NAMM and Demonstrated Why the Global Music Community Gathers Every Year at The NAMM Show.

January 28, 2026 – NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade organization, celebrated 125 years of NAMM at The 2026 NAMM Show — a powerful week that concluded on Jan. 24 and set the music industry’s narrative for years ahead. Featuring five days of incredible education, live concerts and special events, alongside three days of extraordinary exhibits and brand activations, this year’s show featured 1,650-plus exhibitors representing over 5,400 brands and more than 200-plus educational sessions for NAMM member communities.

The 2026 NAMM Show highlighted innovative music technologies, product introductions and trends that will shape the future of the music industry during a five-day-long platform for networking, connections and meetings that are critical for uniting and growing music makers globally.

“The 2026 NAMM Show once again delivered an incredible week of unity and energy for our global NAMM members, showcasing products, partnerships and networking for the entire music industry,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “NAMM continues to be the global stage for our industry to announce groundbreaking products, establish transformative partnerships and gain valuable education that drives success for our industry for the rest of the year.”

NAMM SHOW 2026 BY THE NUMBERS

60,000+ show attendees, including 8,760+ international attendees from 122 countries, regions and territories
1,650+ exhibitors representing 5,400+ brands, which is 25% more than 2025
Nearly 15,000 artists demonstrating and endorsing products and brands
200+ education sessions with 550+ speakers
1,600+ media, influencers and content creators reaching over 200+ million followers, which is 50% more than 2025.

NAMM SHOW 2026 SET LIST HIGHLIGHTS

Product Launches

The NAMM Electronic Press Kit, an online book of product and show announcements, tripled in size from 2025, with nearly 400 brands and companies using the platform to launch new products at The NAMM Show.

NAMM Global Media Day

Now in its third year, NAMM’s Global Media Day featured iconic brands spanning music, sound and entertainment technology categories to announce more than 500 ground-breaking products and business news to an exclusive media/creator/podcast-only audience of 750-plus guests.

NAMM Events and Awards Shows

Providing the platform for some of the industry’s best awards shows and live events, The 2026 NAMM Show saw sold-out crowds all week long, starting with the TEC Awards, followed by The Bass Awards Show, She Rocks Awards and The Parnelli Awards. Each show catered to a thriving professional community that gathered to honor the best of the best in each category.

Looking Back on NAMM, 125 Years Later

NAMM has been consistently guided by the best minds in the music business, who share a common desire to grow the industry and music making. Ever since 1901, NAMM leaders have come together, even as competitors, to ensure their association is helping the entire industry expand. The 125-year timeline is fully digitized and available to everyone on NAMM.org

NAMM’s Music for Life Honor Awarded to Industry Icon Rick Beato

NAMM presented globally acclaimed producer, educator, musician and YouTube creator Rick Beato with its highest honor, the Music for Life Award, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to music and commitment to inspiring music makers. In an exclusive Thursday morning Q&A with NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak, Beato discussed his early musical influences, the music products that have helped define his career and the future of the music business in the age of AI.

NAMM’s Grand Rally for Music Education 

NAMM rallied the industry around its mission Saturday morning, highlighted by magical moments with Grammy Award-winning artists Victor Wooten and Chad Smith. The session, hosted by John Mlynczak and Julia Rubio, brought the audience to its feet with inspirational performances, conversations and messages, as well as live performances from Roots of Rhythm.

The NAMM Foundation

In honor of our 125th “NAMMiversary,” and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the NAMM Foundation — with a generous $125,000 matching donation from Chris Martin, past chair of NAMM — announced at the 2026 show a total of $250,000 in funds to give back.

The Return of NAMM NeXT Europe and New NAMM NeXT Latin America

Coming off the success of last year’s inaugural event, NAMM NeXT Europe will return and NAMM NeXT Latin America will debut in 2026. These NAMM NeXT events are one- to two-day leadership conferences that will gather our industry to focus on how we can grow the industry and address common challenges.

  SCORPIO, Reported and correspondent on the job at NAMM!

Radio host and International Salsa Magazine correspondent Bryan Astrachan, aka Scorpio, at the NAMM Show

The 2027 NAMM Show is already in the works for January 26-30, 2027, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Booths with early bird rates and discounts are available now at NS27 Exhibit | NAMM.org

“I have worked with Gary since 2018 and I have been able to actively learn from his expertise as an engineer, host, programmer and now as the interim program director”

“Gary has always welcomed me with open arms and kindness”

He always supports Canto Tropical and our paths continue to cross as we support live music in all genres! Scorpio

Gary baca and Scorpio at the NAMM — Gary Baca, KPFK, Interim Program Director & Scorpio, Reporter, Correspondent, and Anchor

Gary Baca, aka G-Spot was born and raised in East Oakland. Baca began his radio career at KALX Berkeley before initiating his radio programming at KPFA Berkeley which then lead him to KPFK Los Angeles.

Gary is an American radio veteran and cultural tastemaker who currently.

In previous radio programs, Baca’s featured presentations have included interviews with Lisa Lisa, Rick James, Morris Day & The Time, George Clinton, Boy George, Tito Puente, Macy Gray, Roger Troutman & Zapp, Bootsy Collins, WAR, James Brown and Cameo, Rakim, The Commodores, Buddy Miles, The Doors, Earth, Wind & Fire, Johnny Mathis and Carlos Santana.

Now celebrating over 30 years of radio programming, he is also a concert emcee introducing such acts as Ice Cube, Cameo, Cypress Hill, DJ Quik, Too Short, E40, Tierra, Malo, The Dramatics, Rappin 4Tay, Sheila E. & Rhythm Tribe.

KPFK 90.7 FM’s Pocho Hour of Power provides a smartly satirical look at political issues facing Latinos in America. Co-hosted by cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, filmmaker Esteban Zul, comedian’s Jeff Keller, Paul Vato, and producer Gary Baca the show brings its raucous brand of satire.

*Gary has a history of discovering artists, hosting community TV, and teaching radio skills.

KPFK, Interim Program Director: Manages Programing for KPFK.DJ & Host:

Global Village (Tuesday’s 11am-

1pm) The Pocho Hour of Power

(Friday’s 3-4pm) Welcome 2 the

Dawn (Saturday 4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) Co-Host and produce La Raza radio Thursdays 3-4pm

Gary Began his career in radio in the late 80’s at KALX in Berkely

KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM

Santa Barbara,

93.7 FM San Diego, 99.5 FM

Ridgecrest & China Lake *ONLINE @ KPFK.ORG

Studios located in Glendale, CA
Transmitter high atop Mt. Wilson
With 110,000 watts of power

Scorpio and Rafael Feliciano — Scorpio with Rafael Feliciano, “Soul Sauce”

Born out love and respect for the unique musical sounds created by latin jazz legend/vibist Cal Tjader, this collective of pro players recreate the exact musical arrangements Tjader wrote and recorded for today’s audience. From original hits such as “Soul Sauce(wachi-wara)” to versions of jazz standards like “Speak Low”, this band will entrance an audience with its exotic, soothing sound which fuses afro-cuban and brazilian rhythms with modern jazz classics.
The band features Peter Burke on vibes/percussion, Ramon Banda on timbales, Rafael Feliciano on congas, Joe Rotondi on piano, and Ross Schodek on bass. There is usually a surprise guest appearance added to each show as well, making each performance a special occasion.

“I have had the pleasure of attending several “Soul Sauce” presentations at a variety of venues including Roscoe’s in Long Beach and I have always been impressed with their professionalism, talent , respect & love for the music they play live”

Scorpio, Reporter, Correspondent and Anchor

Musicians at The NAMM Show — Some musicians at The NAMM Show

Gabrielito at The NAMM Show — Gabrielito Y La Verdad at The NAMM Show

Gabriel Gonzalez, also known by his stage name Gabrielito, is a multi-talented artist whose career spans decades of film, music, videos, commercials, theatre and live-performance concerts. Internationally recognized for movie roles from his childhood work in Mexican cinema to cult classic films as well as countless mainstream commercials, tours and stage productions, Gonzalez captivates audiences with his dynamic stage presence and larger-than-life vocals that make each performance a memorable experience.

He began his career in show business at the age of seven appearing in numerous top grossing films in Latin America featuring the Latin Orchestra La Sonora Santanera and famed comic Resortes. At eight years old, he recorded his first album. Gonzlaez has toured and shared billing with some of today’s most iconic artists across Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. including Camilo Sesto, Lalo Guerrero, Juan Gabriel, Los Van Van, QUETZAL, Cubanismo, Lila Downs, Los Lobos and many more.

Most notably, he toured with the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights by acclaimed composer Lin-Manuel Miranda as a principal character of the 2011-2012 North American National Tour. Gonzalez’s latest projects include working in the Salsa community with bands such as Boogaloo Assassins and the Los Angeles-based La Verdad.

La Verdad is the premier West Coast Latin music ensemble. A collective of world-class musicians embodying the truth of the Los Angeles Latin experience, the group is led by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Gabriel Gonzalez. La Verdad’s traditional and original repertoire spans the scope of Latin American route music including Salsa, Cha-Cha, Boogaloo, Latin Soul and much more.

“I have had the absolute pleasure of knowing Gabrielito for several years and I have grown to love & respect his music”

I have had numerous conversations with him regarding community uplift activities and his love for his family and children!

“Gabrielto has impressed me with his ongoing support of public radio especially Canto Tropical and Alma Del Barrio and live music”

Scorpio, Reporter, Correspondent and Anchor

Scorpio and Max at the NAMM Show — Scorpio and Max from La Verdad

Pictures of NAMM

People shopping in the stands of the NAMM Show

Instruments at The NAMM Show — Some instruments at The NAMM Show

Humberto Ruiz Jr, Musician at The NAMM Show — Humberto Ruiz Jr, Musician

Musicians on stage at the NAMM Show — Some musicians on stage at the NAMM Show

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MUSIC AND VIDEO CREATION

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit mobile production studio.

MOBILE PRODUCTION STUDIOS

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit mobile production studio.

MOBILE PRODUCTION STUDIOS

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit mobile production studio.