Los Gatos
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Bio
Exotic, hypnotic, primal yet sophisticated, Los Gatos performs a mixture of high-energy Latin music fused with traditional jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, this innovative Latin jazz ensemble reflects the musical influence of members that hail from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Chile, and the U.S. The musicians of Los Gatos have performed with diverse groups like Brass 5, Latin Jazz Project, the Celtibillies, Solazo and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. They draw on their varied cultural and musical backgrounds to create an exciting and original repertoire filled with ancient African rhythms and Cuban song forms seamlessly melded with the American-born idiom of jazz.
About
Los Gatos Offers Rare World Premier Performance
Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring ensemble
This exciting one-of-a-kind program combines Coen’s amazing multi-movement piece, interpreted in the intriguing and exotic style of
The special group of talented musicians assembled to perform Ray Coen’s stunning composition Suite de Nueva York consists of:
Mojica Alfredo – lead vocals
Pancho Aranda – timbales, vocals
Vladimir Espinosa – congas, vocals
Jeff Hofmann – bass
Brett Kirby – baritone and alto saxes
Chris Magee – trumpet
Tom McKenzie – trombone
Sam Nash – drumset
David Sandoval – bongos, vocals
Graham Spice – piano
Tim Weir – trumpet
Chris White – alto sax, flute
After years of fostering musical relationships with artists like Rene Hernandez, Jose Estevez and Luis Martinez, Ray was asked to record the legendary Afro Cuban Suite with Dizzy Gillespie. After recording the hit "Dancemania" with Tito Puente at Steinway Hall, Ray played in Carnegie Hall with Arsenio Rodriguez for Jose Marti's 100th Birthday.
Over the course of his vast career Ray has recorded almost 70 albums with a wide variety of artists. His credits include work with Vitin Aviles, Arsenio Rodriguez, Tito Puente, Roberto Rohena, Tommy Olivencia, Nacho Sanabria, Frankie Ruiz, Gilberto Santarosa, Machito, Juan Ramon Torres, Mario Ortiz, Luigi Texidor, Celeste Mendoza, Guadalupe Victoria Yoli (La Lupe), Celia Cruz, Willie Colon, Willie Rosario, Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo, Yayo el indio and Lucho Gatica.
Coen’s father Augusto was a well-known Puerto Rican trumpeter who performed with Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake and Fletcher Henderson, and his group Augusto Coen y Sus Boricuas was one of the first to apply the Big Band concept to Latin music.
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