New York Latin Band 5

The leader of this New York Latin Band was born in the Dominican Republic and he began playing music at an early age. At age 10 he enrolled at Jose Reyes Music School in his hometown. Soon he was the lead snare drum in his town’s Municipal Band under Professor Amable Botello. A couple of years later he found himself performing with local bands such as Nina “ El Gago”, “Yeyen” y su Bajo, “los Antillanos del Sabor” among other popular bands of the region.

At age 16 he joined the group “Los Juveniles del Sabor”, whose lead vocalist were Ruby Perez and Aramis Camilo, both considered among the best in the country. He continued to perform with local acts such as Julita del Rio and "Sonido Latino".

New York Latin Band credits

In 1980 he came to the big apple New York City to try out the scene. The leader of this New York Latin Band first gig was with Victor White, Dominican merengue singer famous with Wilfrido Vargas. Then the big break came, a call from the Jazz Pianist Hilton Ruiz. He got the job and went on tour for the next two years making a name for himself among New York city finest percussionists. Soon after that his career took off performing with big names such as Tito Puente, Jose Figaro, Chucho Valdez, Mario Bauza and the Afro Cuban Ban, Dizzy Gillespie and the United Nations Orch., Xavier Cougart, Ceila Cruz, Alfredo “ Chocolate” Armenteros, Cachoao, just to name a few.

New York Latin Band venues

Still living in New York, the leader of this New York Latin Band keeps busy performing around New York City and the world’s biggest venues. He is considered the pioneer of the merengue-jazz concept, inherited by his mentor the great Mario Rivera " El Comandante", considered the best Dominican musician ever! His latest project is the first of many attempts in combining Jazz and Contemporary music with Santo Dominigo’s folkloric beat “merengue”. The leader of this New York Latin Band career is just taking off and lots of sounds will be heard from “The King of the Merengue Jazz”.