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Gloria "La Niña" Rivera (Vocals)
Gloria "La Niña" Rivera, daughter
of the well-known Cuban tres player and composer of Cuban music, "El Niño"
Rivera, hails from Havana, Cuba, and has performed and appeared on national
and international stages with such artists and musical ensembles as Chuchito
Valdéz, La Orquesta de Joseito Fernandez, Los Van Van, Orquesta Revé,
Son 14, Irakere, and others.
Nelson Rosado (Vocals)
Nelson Rosado hails from the rural town of Bonao
in the Dominican Republic. He has performed throughout the Caribbean and around
the United States with such groups and ensembles as La Banda Chula, La Magia,
Grupo Amenaza, Proyecto La Plena, and El Grupazo.
Pat Smith (Electric Bass)
As a studio musician and freelance performer, Pat
Smith has had the opportunity to perform and record with many professional artists,
such as Sisters Sledge, Frankie Avalon, Lou Rawls, Rich Little, Danny Ganns,
The Lettermen, Chris LeDoux, and Gladys Knight. Smith has also logged thousands
of hours in the recording studio as a player, arranger, and composer for broadcast,
film, and CD release. He has contributed to works for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN,
TNT, New Line Cinema, Buena Vista, Touchstone Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Paramount
Pictures, Warner Bros., and Columbia Pictures. He is a respected performer in
many musical genres, but is noted mostly for his Latin bass prowess.
David Graf (Trombone)
One of the most versatile trombonists in the Twin
Cities, David Graf has performed in a wide variety of musical settings, including
jazz, dixieland, big bands and shows, salsa and Brazilian music, and recordings.
In the jazz arena, Dave has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Slide
Hampton, Jack McDuff, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, the Woody
Herman Orchestra, and drummer Charli Persip. He is proud of his 11-year association
with the late trumpeter Red Wolfe and his groups, the Port of Dixie Jazz Band
and Ellington Echoes. As a member of local show orchestras, Graf has backed
well-known performers such as Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr.,
Julie Andrews, Harry Connick, Jr., Rosemary Clooney, and many others.
Scott Agster (Trombone)
Scott Agster is a freelance trombonist, teacher,
and arranger in the Twin Cities area. He also plays in other commercial genres
such as jazz quintet (Snowblind), hip/hop (G8), New Orleans brass band (Jack
Brass), and big band (Bellagala Big Band). He has had the opportunity to perform
and work with many acclaimed artists like Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Dave Douglas,
Phil Woods, Nicholas Payton, Stefan Karlsson, Slide Hampton, and Paul McKee.
Scott has also performed internationally at venues such as the 2006 North Sea
Jazz Festival, the 2005 Iwawa Jazz Festival and Sopot/Gdansk Festival in Poland,
the King's Palace in Thailand (2004), the 2004 Vancouver Jazz Festival, and
the 2003 International Trombone Festival in Helsinki, Finland.
Bryan Rossi (Piano)
Bryan Rossi has been a professional musician and educator all his life. He has attended Washington University in St. Louis, the Sorbonne in Paris, and has a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas and a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. He taught French for 15 years and was a school principal for 8 years before becoming a consultant and adjunct professor. Dr. Rossi is currently Program Director at High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) where he oversees both the academic and recording programs. Bryan has played with such groups as the The Mary Jane Alm Band, Orquesta Sabroson, Bomba, Sabor Tropical, and The Latin Sounds Orchestra, all Minnesota Music Awards Recipients. In May 2008, he was inducted into the Mid-American Music Hall of Fame for his work with the Judd Group. He currently is performing with Salsa del Soul and his own group, the Latin Jazz Ensemble.
José "Freddy" Reyes (Congas)
Hailing from Cataño, Puerto Rico, José "Freddy" Reyes has been an important figure in the Twin Cities since the 1980s. Reyes has been and integral member of such groups/ensembles such as Sabrón, The Latin Sounds Orchestra, Sabor Tropical, Proyecto La Plena, and Sensación Latina. Reyes has shared the stage with many national artists such as Sheila E., Larry Harlow, and Andy Montañez, among others.
Shai Hayo (Timbales)
Shai Hayo is a drummer-percussionist based out of
the Twin Cities. He specializes in traditional and contemporary musical genres
of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and West Africa. He has peformed nationally
and internationally with such groups and artists as Paul Anka, Ann-Margret, Viviana Pintado, Sheila
E., Nachito Herrera, Sowah Mensah, Paracumbé, Shi-Daa Cultural Troupe,
Salsa del Soul, the Macalester College African Music Ensemble, and Jazziroco.
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