Los Gatos CD

Fusing traditional jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms to make music that is exotic, hypnotic, and primal, yet sophisticated. Los Gatos is a group that plays Latin Jazz and traditional Latin music. The group is comprised of members from Cuba, Chile, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and New Orleans. Live performances sometimes include dancer Sandra Meythaler of Ecuador. Within Latin music, this CD demonstrates a wide array of styles and influences. The New self-titled CD by Los Gatos is a must-listen! _____ This Latin jazz project has developed with the musical influence of musicians from different regions coming together to form Los Gatos. The members of Los Gatos have played with Latin Jazz Project, Latin Heat, and Solazo. Their performances take the listener on a trip to distant lands. They draw on a repertoire including traditional African rhythms, Carribbean influences and traditional song forms. This group seamlessly melds this with traditional jazz, being one of the original American-born music idioms._____ Vladimir Espinosa - percussion / vocals Vladimir is a musician and dancer originally from the city of Havana, Cuba. His specialties include Latin and Afro-Cuban styles. He graduated from the ENA (Escuela National del Arte) in Cuba in 1985. He has worked, performed, taught, and choreographed for many companies such as: Caribe–o (Cuba), National Folklorico de Cuba, Koral y Esmeralda (Ecuador), and more. As a performer Vladimir has traveled extensively throughout the US, Europe, Central and South America. In 1994 he served as the Artistic Director during ceremonies in conjunction with the election of the Queen of Ecuador, in Quito. Vladimir has played and toured with many musical groups such as Pueblo Nuevo (Ecuador) and Havana Express (Cuba)._____ Jeff Hofmann - Upright and electric bass Coming from a varied background of styles, Jeff brings a driving, hypnotic pulse to the group. He has toured throughout the country with different groups, and is currently a much sought after studio session bassist in central and southwestern Virginia. Jeff studied music at Roanoke College with Alan Weinstein of the Kandinsky Trio.Jeff has presented music education programs with classical trios and music programs geared towards introducing new instruments and music to children.Jeff has been instrumental in cultivating ethnic diverse music in Southwest Virginia and trying to make it more readily available to more and more varying audiences._____David Sandoval - percussion / vocals David is a percussionist born into a family of musicians. He was raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico and played in several local salsa bands. He played with such greats as Jose Justo Canales, Nacho Sanabria and Bobby Valentin. His styles include Afro-Cuban, Latin jazz, merengue & salsa beats. His stepfather, Ray Coen is a well-known pianist/arranger/composer, and afforded him the opportunity to learn from such musical talents as Roy Rosario, Papo Pepin, Roberto Rohena & Rafael Cortijo.David strives to foster ethnic diversity using his talents as a percussionist to cross racial and ethnical barriers. His diverse percussion skills bring a highly spirited flavor to the already-spicy rhythm section of Los Gatos. The melody can be as smooth as sugar cane, or as fiery as sazon!_____ Lenny Marcus - piano/flute Lenny Marcus worked for many years in New Orleans and south Louisiana. While there, Lenny had the opportunity to study with world-renowned jazz educator Alvin Batiste at Southern University, as well as the legendary jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, among others. However, perhaps his greatest influences came from the strong left-handed, blues-oriented pianist Ray Bryant, to whom Lenny grew up listening. He also brings in a unique style, providing fresh innovative, traditional jazz improvisational solos on piano and flute. This melded with with the Cuban flavor of the montunos adds a wonderfully diverse layer to Los Gatos._____ Francisco Aranda - percussion / vocals