Rene Alvarez - All Stars Director
Musical Director, composer, arranger, trombonist, pianist and vocalist, this LUKAS-winning artist is one of Europe's most sought after Latin artists. Most recently you'll see spot him in the latest Bond movie, where he directed the Cuban band featured in the final scene, but he is usually on tour playing at Europe's biggest Latin Festivals. Born in Santiago de Cuba, Rene graduated as a trombonist from the Conservatorio Esteban Salas Music School of Santiago de Cuba. At the age of 17 he took part in six international choral festivals alongside choirs from all over the world. From 2001 to 2007 René was the lead trombonist in Sur Caribe, one of the most famous groups in Cuba, with whome he recorded four albums, three of them as trombonist and vocalist and as co-producer as well. He has worked with major record labels including Warner and Sony. Playing live, René has taken part in big international events such as Glastonbury, Electric Picnic (Ireland) Imperial Jazz Festival London, The National Theatre and Carnival de Cuba, Latinossegor (France) and ofcourse LatinoLife in the Park, the UK's biggest Latin Festival.
Eliane Correa - Piano
Eliane Correa is a pianist, MD and composer based between London and Havana; trained classically at the Luxembourg Conservatoire, she went on to study piano and composition at the renowned Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba, in 2005, then relocating to London where she became known for her work as a bandleader, composer and pianist in her Cuban fusion project, Wara, which went on to tour both in the UK and internationally, release several records and win three LUKAS Awards (Best Latin Alternative Band 2012, 2014 & 2018). Since 2012, she leads two other projects, Eli & La Evolución, a contemporary and original Cuban Timba project, and Afro-Cuban jazz/soul ensemble En El Aire Project, with which she released the highly innovative, critically acclaimed album Rumba Con Flores in 2016. She recently composed and directed the soundtrack for critically acclaimed Argentinian feature documentary Sombras de Luz. Her CV includes, among others, 6 UK tours, 4 Europe tours, Glastonbury Festival, Canary Wharf Jazz Festival (co-headline), the Olympics 2012, the Barbican, the Roundhouse, the National Theatre, the Hackney Empire, Secret Garden Festival, the Jazz Café and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
Mauricio Sanchez Rivera - Saxophone
Since moving to the UK in 2007 Chilean born tenor, soprano and alto sax player has performed and recorded with jazz, rock, blues and hip hop bands, and in the WTW Big Band, the Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble, the London Gipsy Orchestra, the Habanera Latin Band and several ensembles. Mauricio is a former member of the Transatlantic Chilean Folk Ensemble - a collaboration of folk musicians across Europe and Chile - completing three tours with them. This included concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe and Mela festivals as part of the A Thousand Winds Orchestra aswell as in Pazin, Croatia in 2015, and a one month tour in India. In the same year Mauricio played with the eclectic Chinese band Dawangang in the 2016 Saalfelden Jazz Festival in Austria, and at a World Music festival in Germany. In 2019 Mauricio played and recorded in the 25th James Bond film “No Time To Die” with Rene Alvariez' Latin Combination band, in the same year he played at BBC2 radio show Broadcast House for their Christmas programme with the Latin Bridge band.
Frank Portuondo - Bass
From Guantanamo, Frank is a highly skilled Bass player in many styles of music but mostly in Cuban and Latin. Playing from the age of 9, he spent the next 13 years studying in several music schools in Cuba ending up in the most prestigious; the "Higher Institute of Art" (ISA) in Havana. He became a performer almost at the very beginning of his studies, playing with lots of bands likes: Principe's del Changüí, Grupo Manguare,Tony Avila"s Band, Grupo Jade, Warm London, En el Aire Project, Lokki Terra, Kandela mi Son, Omar Puente band, Lokandes, Cuban Combination, The Legends ARL, Soul Supreme and many others. He has been involved in many recordings and festivals, sharing stages with many international artists, including Son Yambú and Natalia Lafourcade. He is passionate about arranging, producing, composing, developing new skills both in instrument and in many other things related to music and art in general.
Landy Diaz - Trombone
Landy is a Cuban Trombonist and music educator who was classically trained at the internationally recognised Escuela Nacional de Arte (National School of Arts) in Havana. Relocating to Spain in 1994, he toured Spain extensively with the Orquesta Internacional Libertad and the Orquesta Carrusel among others. Since his arrival in London, he has accompanied some of the world's best-known salsa musicians such as Tito Puente Jr. and Maelo Ruiz. He received the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club's Friday night residency slot alongside the UK's top Cuban and Latin Jazz bands (2012-present), as well as being the house Trombonist at the famous Floridita London. He has toured across Europe performing in a wide range of genres and formats with internationally acclaimed projects such as the Antares Big Band, Soul Caribbean and Ska Cubano. Landy currently lives in North London but is able to travel anywhere in the UK and internationally (Spanish passport). He has played the UK's most prominent festivals (Glastonbury Festival, Secret Garden Festival, Africa Oye Festival, Canary Wharf Jazz Fest and the London Jazz Festival) and played at most of the UK's top venues (Jazz Café, O2 Arena, Ronnie Scott's and many more).
Harry Brown - Trombone
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Harry was nurtured at an early age by his mother who was the Choir director/Organist and has gone on to excel in a variety of musical spheres: Jazz, Early music, Reggae, Classical, Latin, Soul, Pop and Chamber music as well as a composer, educator and scholar. His performance, studio and vast arranging credits include many international artists across the globe: Adele, The Jazz Warriors, McCoy Tyner, Tom Jones, Barry White, Roy Ayers, John Legend, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jnr, Plan B, Jazz Jamaica, Jerry Dammers, Rudimental, Massive Attack, Ken Boothe, Chineke Orchestra!, Bunny Lee, Dennis Bovell, Hal Wilner, Dizzee Rascal, Grace Jones, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and many more. In recognition of his significant contribution to the music industry Harry was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Luis Alberto Danger - Trumpet
Luis Alberto Danger, known musically as Musiquito. Born in Santiago de Cuba, Luis attended the Santiago de Cuba Music Conservatory, where he graduated as a trumpeter. Since then, Luis has developed his professional career, working with many prestigious bands, such as: Matamoros Septet, Turquino Septet, Nabori Septet among other projects where he has been able to travel to many countries internationally. and today he is in London working on different stages with his magic trumpet, which transmits a traditional and typical sound, the authentic Cuban gift that identifies him.
Rolando Dominguez - Trumpet
Cuban born Rolando started pplaying trupmets in touring bands around Santiago, Havana and Varadero, before moving to the UK and playing in I also play Venues such as Ronnie Scotts, Jazz cafe, Pizza Express Jazz Club and so many others around UK, and have performed in Europe and the Far East. He performs in a variety of venues and with bands across the UK including Rene Alvarez and Cuban Combination, The Brit Funk Association, Tribute to the amazing Buena Vista Social club and other projects.
Allexa Nava - Saxophone
Allexa Nava is a 19-year-old saxophonist, flautist and composer, originally from Peru. She began her music career studying at the National Peruvian Conservatoire and later continuing her studies in the UK with multiple learning organizations like Tomorrow's Warriors, NYJO and more. Last year she released her first debut single 'Good Job Philip!' which showcases her writing and arranging for small ensemble. Available on all streaming platforms.
Daniel Carnago - Tres
Born in Santiago de Cuba in 1985, Daniel studied guitar in the School of Art Jose Maria Heredia, Santiago de Cuba. After graduating in 2000 he took the double bass as a second instrument, graduating with a first class degree from the Cucalambe Conservatoire, Las Tunas, Cuba. He took part in many festivals and competitions winning Second Prize at the National April 4th Music Competition, Las Tunas. As well as a player, Daniel starts composing in 2002 successfully and gets to write for the Radio and Television music production programme. During this time he also works with several groups in Cuba as a tres player: Son de Santiago, Septeto Contemporaneo , Son Chevere to mention some. After moving to the UK in 2012, he is on demand as a double bass, tres and guitar player, performing in Latin, Salsa, Mariachi and Latin Funk bands. Daniel has shared the stage with eminent Cuban musicians such as Pancho Amat, Beatriz Marquez, Halia Maria, Waldo Mendoza and Polo Montanez band. He also was invited to play and record in albums with Pachito Alonso, Son 14, Septeto Los Guanches and Septeto Santiaguero (Grammy Latino)
Carlos Peña - Vocals
Caracas born vocalist was born into a musical family, his mother's boleros was renowned. During his high school years, he became the drummer in a rock ballad band, performing in all the renowned concert halls in the country (Venezuela). but soon into salsa with a band called "Los Melómanos" ("Los Inquietos del Ritmo") as both a singer and percussionist (congas) and later with renowned orchestras such as: La Explosión Latina, Grupetto Caribe, Araguaney, Orquesta Saraguey, and even with Oscar D'León himself. He has performed in 60 countries, performing in many renowned festivals such as Montreal Jazz Festival, Womad Festival, Canterbury, Glastonbury among others with latin jazz bands such as Grupo X, La Key to London, Cuban Ska. He has recorded with the likes of Tito Allen, and in concerts such as the "Legacy of salsa."
Luisa Santiago - Vocals
Colombian-born, London-bred singer, songwriter and pianist Luisa Santiago who is well known for calling on the best of both worlds: her roots in Salsa and Latin music and a love of UK Soul and R&B. A Great performer with fantastic stage presence, she currently holds several residencies in London and is a member of some of the city's most interesting musical groups such as 'Colectiva', an all-female Latin-jazz-funk group, as well as collaborating in music projects with a number of well-known international artists. Her single 'Man in the morning' (a perfect balance of Latin urban & Indian influencing sounds) will be out 25th August 2021 on all major platforms. Not to be missed!
Oscar Martinez - Timbal
Oscar Martínez Bartelemy was born in Cuba, graduated from the music school of Havana and currently lives in London since 2004 where he had the privilege of playing with many artists and bands like- Omar Puente, Courtney Pine, Buena Vista Social Club, Rhythms of The World Band, Black Market, Ray de La Paz , Maelo Ruiz, Jimmy Bosh, David Pavón, Tony Vegas, Ismael Rivera Jr, Jesús Alemáñy and Cubanismo, Conga Show, The Gloria Estefan Show plus many more. He has also participated in many recordings with artists like Eros Ramazzotti, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, Mick Jagger and many more
Emeris Solis - Conga
Born in Pacific coast of Colombia, Emeris Solis is one of the most sought after Latino percussionists in Europe and without a doubt one of the most accomplished Colombian percussionists outside his native country. With a career that goes back over 30 years Emeris is a master in Colombian folklore, especially in the music from the Pacific coast, but can also play many styles of percussion styles and rythmns, including Cuban, Puerto Rican Venezuelan and Dominican. Emeris co-directs a new collective La Kasha, which fuses Afro-Latin folklore with London’s cutting edge electronica. Chilled, good humored, and professional, the epitome of the Latin immigrant who has earned success in London through his craft.
https://www.emerissolis.co.uk/
Manuel Campaz - campana/bongos
Manuel is best known for having been a very successful bongo player in the UK latin music sceen since 2020. He is originally from Cali, Colombia where, from a very young age salsa has been a big part of Manuel's life and quickly became his passion. He became a session musician to successful artists from around the global including Yan Collazo, Ismael Rivera JR, Henry Fiol, Luigi Texidor, Osvaldo Roman, Luisito Carrion, Cheo Andujar, David Pabon, Pedro Brull just to name a few and also played with David Pavon, Luisito Carion,Pedro Arroyo, Henry Fiol, Larry Harlow, Latin Clan, Luigi Texidor, Tony Vega, Dorance Lorza (Sexteto Cafe), Mariano Civico, Nacho Sanabria, Osvaldo Roman, and Pauline Henry (The Chimes).
SPECIAL GUESTS
Dunia Correa - guest vocals
This Cuban multi-instrumentalist (guitar and Mexican bass) and singer takes you to the very heart of her native roots in Havana, through her performances. She has played with different bands, of diverse genres and styles, from Cuban traditional music, rock and blues to the Mexican musical world. She has toured with Cuban cantautor "Gerardo Alfonso" as well as "Son Yambu.” She is the singer and Guitarron player of " Mariachi Las Adelitas" and the Singer of "Eli and the Evolution" band.
Christian Mendoza - guest guitar
This Mexican born guitarist/singer/multi instrumentalist composer/producer was classically trained in piano and guitar before moving to the USA , where he atended music school in New York City,. He spent ten years in New York playing in the club scene , where he was a house band member at both the Cafe Wha? and village underground, two of the premier live music clubs in Manhattan. He later toured with the likes of Enrique Iglesias , Ricky Martin, Nelly Furtado, K'naan, Prince Royce, Paulina Rubio , The Voice (as guitarist in the house band) Vernon Reid, Jake Shears , Tony Momrelle, Mark Plati (bowie) Ian Davenport (Radiohead) and among many others . Christian has recorded for many artists from his home studio , and has been invited by Roger Taylor (Queen) to be his guitarist for his upcoming tour in October.
Dorance Lorza - guest vibraphone
Colombian bandleader Dorance Lorza is also one of the world’s leading salsa vibraphonists, awarded a special honour from the City of Cali for spreading the heritage of ‘salsa con vibes’ abroad. Lorza had an impressive reputation in Colombia as an arranger, composer and producer before arriving in the UK. Since then he’s recorded 5 excellent albums with his Sexteto Café, won his first LUKAS award in 2014, before going on to win more international awards, and a 2018 LUKAS for Best Tropical Album for ‘Tributo a Cali’
