Biography:

Latin Jazz. It’s been called La Combinación Perfecta. The perfect combination. The coming together of two worlds. The blending of two musical traditions. Jazz, a truly original art form born in the United States, espouses the freedom in music that its birth nation represents to the world. Latin: a generic term meant to encompass the numerous  dance and folkloric musical styles of the Caribbean. Latin Jazz: part African, part European, it is to some, the ultimate American musical expression.
 
The San Francisco Bay Area has been a historic hotbed for Latin Jazz artists. From Cal Tjader to Armando Peraza,  John Santos to Rebeca Mauleon. The Latin jazz tradition has thrived in the Bay Area.  It is from this tradition that The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel arrives.  Lead by drummer Brian Andres, the group was formed to contribute its own mark to that storied history.  Comprised of some of the most sought after musicians and music educators that the Bay Area has to offer, the ACJC never fails to perform its music at the highest level. The repertoire consists of original compositions as well as exciting original arrangements of classics from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States. The group is equally capable of performing a dance or concert repertoire, as well as educational presentations such as lectures, workshops or instruction focused on the musical instrumentation, composition and arranging or cultural significance and history of the music they perform.
 
In 2007 Brian Andres and Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel released their debut CD “Drummers Speak”. Featuring all original arrangements of nine tunes  written by noteworthy drummer/percussionist’s such as Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Jack DeJohnette, Francisco Aguabella, Tony Williams, Bobby Sanabria and more, the CD has been met by critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences. In 2013 the band released its second recording titled "San Francisco", featuring the best composers, arrangers and players that the SF Bay Area has to offer in the Latin Jazz Field.