THE LATIN GIANTS OF JAZZ AT THE MAYAN - January 15, 2009

   On January 15, 2009 the Latin Giants of Jazz will perform at The Mayan in downtown Los Angeles.  Twenty one outstanding artists will share the stage that evening, all of them with extensive resumes of worldwide performances with the most recognized names in the Latin Jazz and Salsa music world, and at least two thirds of them having once belonged to the famous orchestras of the “King,” Tito Puente.  

   The Latin Giants are the result of the efforts of Johnny Rodriguez Jr., the orchestra’s executive director, and Jose Madera, the musical director, to continue to play with the other members of the Tito Puente orchestra, which disbanded after Puente’s death in May of 2000.  Several of the members of the Latin Giants had shared the stage with Puente for up to 30 years.

Timbal and Musical director

Born in New York of Puerto Rican parents.  His father was the first arranger for the Machito Orchestra back in 1940.  Himself began playing with the Machito Orchestra while still a teenager.  Worked with the Tito Puente Orchestra for 30 years, the last 15 as musical director. 

JOHNNY “DANDY” RODRIGUEZ JR.

Bongos and Executive director

Because of his family’s friendship with Tito Puente, the 16-year-old high-school student Dandy Rodriguez got a tryout and subsequently earned a spot playing bongos in the Puente band.  He played with Tito Puente off and on until Puente’s death in 2000.  He is quoted as saying:  “There’s too much Puente out there to just put it away, you know…  his wife or someone will continue the music and I’ll probably be one of the people who’ll have the job of keeping it all together... There’s too much Puente out there to just put it away.”  

http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrodriguezjr

Tom Elhrich photo

SONNY BRAVO

Piano

Born in New York of Cuban-American parents, was raised in Miami, Florida.  He has performed with Ray Barreto, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Machito, Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco, Ruben Blades, and more.  In 1972 he became the musical director of Tipica.  He had a 15-year musical relationship with Tito Puente and toured with him worldwide. 

More about Sonny Bravo (in Spanish) at http://www.anapapaya.com/especial/e_ppsonnybra.html

BOBBY PORCELLI

Saxophone

Born in New York.  Joined the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra in 1963, the Machito Orchestra in 1965, and the Tito Puente Orchestra in 1966 and stayed with him for about 30 years. 

http://www.robertoswoodwind.com/giants/bob_porcelli.htm

MITCH FROHMAN

Saxophone

Born in New York.  For over 25 years he was the sax and flute soloist of the Tito Puente Orchestra.  He has performed also with Mongo Santamaría, Charlie Palmieri, Machito, Típica 73, Manny Oquendo y Libre, Willie Colón, Larry Harlow All Stars, and more.  He is the sax and flute player for the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and the leader of the Bronx Horns.  An interesting detail, he is the saxophone soloist on the theme song of HBO’s “Sex and the City”.

http://www.thebronxhorns.com

LEWIS KAHN

Trombone (also a violin player)

Born in Los Angeles of European ancestry. Raised in NYC.  Performed with Larry Harlow, the Fania All Stars, Africando, Tito Puente, and more. 

See interview by John Child, for Descarga.com at http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/archives/Interview56 `

RICHARD VIRUET

Trumpet

Born and raised in New York.  Has performed with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Tito Nieves, Jose Alberto"El Canario", Marc Anthony, La India, Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends Band, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, La Sonora Matancera, Hector Lavoe, Frankie Ruiz, Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santarosa, Conjunto Clasico, Ralph Irizarry's SonCafe & Timbalaye, Cano Estremera, Willie Rosario, Milly Quesada, Sergio Vargas, Los Hermanos Lebron, Ray Sepulveda, Michael Stuart, Johnny Rivera, Jerry Rivera, DLG, Dizzie Gillespie, and many more. 

http://www.myspace.com/richieviruet

SAM BURTIS

Trombone

Trombonist and composer/arranger with the Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble.  Performs with the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra.  From 1989 to 1996 he was the trombonist and arranger for the Tito Puente Orchestra. 

More information at http://www.trombone-usa.com/burtis_sam_bio.htm

REYNALDO JORGE

Trombone

Alumnus of the Tito Puente Jazz Ensemble. In his early days he backed legendary names like Xavier Cougat.  He has toured and recorded with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Latin Giants Of Jazz, Eddie Palmieri (La Perfecta II), Ruben Blades (Son Del Solar), Hector La Voe, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Fania All Stars,Tommy Olivencia, Bobby Valentin, and many more. 

http://www.myspace.com/reynaldojorge

KEVIN BRYAN

Trumpet

Has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and more. 

http://www.myspace.com/kevinbryantrumpet

JOHN WALSH

Trumpet

Has performed and/or recorded with Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, The Chico O'Farrill Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Machito Orchestra, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, La India, Tito Nieves, Ray Barretto, among many others. 

GEORGE DELGADO

Conga

Born in the Bronx, NY, of Puerto Rican parents, at 14 years old relocated to Puerto Rico and began to play timbales with Tito Rojas in the city of Humacao.  Relocated to NY in 1983 and eventually became the conguero for Manny Oquendo y Libre.  During his career he has played with Oscar De Leon, Tony Vega, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and more. 

http://www.myspace.com/mrswing1

GERALDO (JERRY) MADERA

Bass

Has played with Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, The Big Three Palladium Orchestra, The Latin Giants, Los Soneros Del Barrio and Jose Alberto "El Canario".   He is the brother of the musical director of the Latin Giants, Jose Madera. 

PETE MIRANDA

Saxophone

Worked and recorded with Machito, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and more

PETER BRAININ

Saxophone

Born in the Bronx, NY.  Has performed with Mongo Santamaria, Willie Colon, the Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Paquito D’Rivera, Cachao, Eddie Palmieri and many more. 

http://www.myspace.com/peterbrainin

PETE NATER

Trumpet

Raised in the Bronx, NY.  Began to play at 15 years old with Larry Harlow.  Has performed with Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, and many more. 

Recent interview at http://www.nme.com/video/id/cBIL1AbI2sA/search

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=437083304 

JIMMY BOSCH

Trombone

Born and raised in New Jersey of Puerto Rican parents.  Began to play the trombone at 13 years old and has played with Cachao, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barreto, Ruben Blades, the Fania All-Stars, Willie Colon, Oscar D’Leon, Marc Anthony, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, and many more.  He is the youngest 52 year old you will ever see. 

http://www.jimmyboschmusic.com

TODD BASHORE

Saxophone

http://www.toddbashore.com under construction.

FRANKIE VASQUEZ

Vocals

Raised in Guayama, Puerto Rico.  Moved to New York in 1977. Has participated with several Salsa bands – Manny Oquendo y Libre, The Lebron Brothers, his own Soneros del Barrio and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

CITA RODRIGUEZ

Vocals

Daughter of famous Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez. 

http://www.myspace.com/citarodriguez

MARCO BERMUDEZ

Vocals

Born in Ecuador.  Resident of New York City for the past 20 years.  Has toured around the world with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Ruben Blades, India, Tito Nieves, Domingo Quinonez, and more.  He has been with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra since 2003. 

http://www.myspace.com/marcobermudez