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A nine piece Latin band performing Classic Salsa, Latin
Jazz, and traditional styles including
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Mambo
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Bolero
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Chachacha
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Rumba
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Son
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Son Montuno
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Guaracha
This fine ensemble performs to the delight of audiences
everywhere, with their fine repertoire of traditional Latin classics and
original compositions and arrangements.
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Instrumentation:
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Cesar
Oviedo
(Bass, Piano, Vocals, Arranger, Musical Director)
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Born
1962 in Nicaragua, Cesar graduated from the National Conservatory
of Music and began his musical career in the city of Managua
as a bass player with the jazz fusion band Praxis.
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Playing
different styles including Brazilian, Rock, Flamenco and Latin American
Folk, he performed in the Havana Cuba Jazz Festival and
the UCLA in Lima, Peru in 1987.
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Won
first prize in the Festival de la Juventud.
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Music
Adviser for The Nicaraguan National Television Systems Network
for three years
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Composed,
arranged and played for the OTI Nicaraguan Festival.
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Produced,
played and recorded with Latin Caribbean -Reggae, Salsa, Cuban and
Merengue bands in Miami.
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Toured
with Soul Vibes
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Played
Mexican music in California
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Musical
Director of Tropical Splash in Las Vegas.
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In
1997, he spent four months playing Jazz in Japan.
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Cesar
is currently producing his own music as well as arranging, playing
bass and piano with West End Mambo as well as leading
his original Latin Rock band Braco.
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Jose Sanchez
(Timbales, Congas and backup vocals)
Born
in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Jose played hand percussion and drum set for
his church at the age of 12. He began his professional career with Brazilian
band Energia Brazil, where he met Cesar Oviedo. Recognizing
Joses natural talent for percussion, Cesar brought him onboard
his Latin jazz/rock/fusion band Braco playing drumset. His versatility
and passion for Salsa brought him to West End Mambo, first
as bongocero, then as conguero.
- Performed with
various local groups including Samecumba and Color
Latino.
- Shared the Smile
Fest stage with Bella Fleck and the Flecktones.
- Featured percussionist
on numerous area recordings including the latest projects by Braco
and West End Mambo.
Joses
versatility has found him playing an array of percussion: timbales, djembe,
congas, bongos and drum set, as well as a variety of musical styles, including,
funk, jazz, salsa, merengue, cumbia, bachata, son, sambas and boleros,
as well as playing gospel music for his church. He is currently very active
in the Latin music scene throughout the piedmont and triangle areas of
North Carolina.
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Steve
Blake
(Saxophones, Arranger, Bandleader)
- Steve studied
with woodwind maestro Joseph Viola and is a graduate
of the Berklee School of Music.
- His 25 year
career includes live performances with R&B artists including The
Four Tops and The Temptations.
- He performed
at the Brevard Jazz Festival with The Matt Kendrick
Unit, sharing the bill with the Yellowjackets and
Kenny Garret.
- He appears on
recordings with the Matt Kendrick Unit, the Alan
Neese Quintet and the Joe Robinson Group.
- Steve is an
accomplished writer, arranger and recording engineer, producing numerous
successful independent releases for regional artists.
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Maria
Isabel Vasquez
(Lead vocals, Coro & Percussion)
- Maria is a native
of Colombia who has kept a strong sense of her culture's music; Cumbia
and Vallenato. Upon arrival in United States
in the early seventies, she was exposed to the soulful sounds of artists
like Patty Label, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. Raised in Miami,
a melting pot of ethnic music, she was greatly influenced by Jazz
and Brazilian singers like Al Jarreau, Billy Holiday, Janice Siegel
and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
- Maria studied
voice at Miami-Dade Community College, the Lecuona
Music Academy, and has performed in musicals and festivals,
among them George M. and El Festival de La Calle
8. She sang lead vocal for Salsa bands including Tirso
Martin & His Orquestra and the Bambana Band,
as well as working in the department of media and advertising for
Telemundo, where she made jingles for radio and TV.
- After coming
to North Carolina she has studied voice at the North Carolina
Music Academy and is currently attending Guilford College,
working on a dual degree in Psychology and Education. She has been
involved in music projects with Stan Stegal (top 40),
Vacilon (Salsa, Cumbia, & Merengue) and most recently,
the Too Cool Yule CD with West End Mambo (Classic
Salsa).
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Nathan
Scott
(Bass)
- Began studying
the bass with his father at the age of 12.
- Won the
ASTA National Bass Solo competition and was principal bass
of the National High School Honors Orchestra (1998)
- Member of the
Winston-Salem Symphony since 2001
- 2004 graduate
of the NC School of the Arts with a degree in music
performance on the bass.
- In addition
to his work with West End Mambo, Nathan is an active
freelance jazz bassist in NC
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Rafael
Duque
(Congas)
- Born in NYC
in 1981, Rafael is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro majoring
in Sociology
- Studied Latin
percussion with Felix Sanabria in Staten Island, NY,
focusing on Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms.
- As a sociologist
and student of Afro-Cuban/Puerto Rican/Latin music in NYC, Rafael
has conducted interviews with such notable musicians as bassist Andy
Gonzalez, percussionist Willie Everich, music
historian Rene Lopez. His primary musical influences
include Rene Lopez, Jerry & Andy Gonzalez, Manny Oquendo,
Pancho Quinto, Gregorio "El Goyo" Hernandez, and Tommy Lopez.
- In addition
to his work with West End Mambo, Rafael has played with
the Herman Aldridge Swing, Color Latino, Joe Robinson
and Upper Line-up
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Alberto
Carrasquillo
(Trumpet)
- Alberto is
a busy freelance trumpet player. In addition to his Salsa work with
West End Mambo, he plays trumpet with Carnavalito, a popular Latin
Jazz group based in Raleigh.
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