latin jazz

Daniel Amat

Wednesday, 23 November 2022 18:43

Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

Daniel Amat, Cuban pianist, born in a small town of Havana called Güira de Melena. He grew up surrounded by the rhythms and harmonies of his native Cuba. From a very young age, he was influenced by his father Pancho Amat, one of the essential tres players of all times, who passed him the tradition of son, trova, and rumba. While pursuing his formal studies at the National School of Music in Havana, Daniel came in contact with classical music, jazz, and the music of Latin-American composers. Years later he graduated from the National School of Music receiving a degree of classical pianist and professor. All of this allows Daniel to have a unique and authentic style where fusion between the formal elements of structure, the balance of classical music and the freedom of harmonies and styles of jazz reminding us of Oscar Peterson or Art Tatum among others. Nevertheless, his music is wholly dedicated to the main genres of Cuban music such as Son, Changüi, Guaguanco, and Danzón. Even though Daniel is influenced by contemporary music, his style is genuinely based on the roots of Cuban music thus creating a unique and authentic musical language.

Daniel has pursued his career internationally, appearing in prestigious venues throughout Europe, Latin America. His debut CD “El piano que llevo dentro” (The Piano Inside of Me) received the 2005 Cubadisco prize in the Instrumental music category. Currently, Daniel resides in Málaga, Spain, where the critics describe him as "one of the great pianists of universal jazz."

Christian Pepin

Tuesday, 12 April 2022 18:29

MP Artists Roster

Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

2x Grammy Award Winner

A musical multi-linguist 2014 GRAMMY® Award Winner and 2016 GRAMMY® Nominated Percussionist Christian Pepin is a versatile musician that embodies the soul of a percussionist that inherently stirs the human spirit. From his supersonic slaps to the thunderous open tones and heavy hitting bass notes, the young Christian Pepin shows perceptiveness and adoration for Latin and World music. His keen sense, gifted interpretation of music, and the influence of the New York streets have allowed Christian to translate his bliss. Whether it be on the stage or set to Avant-garde Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz, he can make his drums speak fluently to any listener.

From his humble roots in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Christian Pepin has played music all his life. His father, a gifted musician in his own right, and mother, a talented vocalist, gave him a set of drums at the tender age of six. As he became older, he made the transition to timbale, then congas, and onto bongó all while perfecting his musical craft. Music is innately a dominant part of the Pepin family: his great-grandfather Toño Pepin, his Grandfather Papo Pepin, and his cousin Bobby Allende. All musical icons and legends in their own right. Music breathes life into the soul of Christian Pepin that sustains him as a musician

He moved to Spokane, WA from New York City with his family during his teenage years and continued his studies. He learned to improvise many styles such as Rumba, which helped shape and develop Christian's melodic, versatile, and danceable sound.

In 2001, Christian moved to Seattle where he continued to develop his unique sound as well as a strong following. During that time, he excelled in Marching Band and went on to play all instruments in the Battery, also known as the 'Drum Line'. Christian fell in love with a third bass drum for its complex and challenging odd time. Later In mid-2005, he was asked to join the Cascade Marching Band touring all over the U.S.

In 2008, he started touring with many Latin, World, Rock and R&B artist where he began to develop a very versatile style of playing. Being able to adjust to many types of situations playing each with class and sophistication. In 2012, Christian moved to San Francisco where he was asked to fly down to record the Grammy Winning album entitled "PMO" Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

Since then, he has and continues to tour all over the world. He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of Poncho Sanchez, Tommy Igoe, Nestor Torres, Pete Escovedo, Steve Turre, Sheila E. as well as the likes of other Latin artist such as Roberto Roena, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Tito Nieves, Michael Stuart and many other artists.

Bululú

Tuesday, 12 October 2021 11:02

MP Artists Roster

Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

“Bululú features a multi-talented team of San Francisco Bay Area artists from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds that bring a wealth of sensibilities and ‘sabor’ to the project.”—Lali Mejia.

Lali Mejia

Band Leader / Percussion, Vocals

A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Lali Mejia is a percussionist, composer and educator specialized in the Afro-Venezuelan folklore as well as Latin American and styles of music. During her career, she has shared the stage and toured with prominent musicians such as Marco Granados, Aquiles Baez, Jorge Glem and Akira Tana. Additionally, Lali has participated in numerous music festivals around the US, Caribbean, China and Japan, and performed in venues such as the Tokyo Hakuyu Hall, Macau International Music Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Venezuelan Sounds at the Smithsonian Institute and SF Davies Symphony Hall. Since 2004, Lali has facilitated many Afro-Venezuelan workshops around the US and internationally.

Jose Roberto Hernández

Music Director / Guitar, Cuatro, Vocals

Jose Roberto Hernández is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, arranger, producer, music educator, ethnomusicologist and one of the most respected exponents of folkloric music of Latin America in the US today. He was born in the city of Cárdenas (Tabasco), Mexico, where his musical career began, and continued in the state of Oaxaca and Mexico City prior to relocating to the United States. His devotion, creativity and professionalism in the genre of traditional music have earned him the recognition of great musicians from Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Argentina. He has collaborated with renowned masters of Latin music such as Orestes Vilató, John Santos, Jesus Díaz and Bobi Céspedes, among others.

Peta Robles

Percussion

Peta Robles Izquierdo is one of the few, most accomplished female percussionists of Peru. She was born in Lima into the “Los Izquierdo” family of exceptional musicians and dancers where she began to play cajon and “zapatear” when she was a child. As a young adult, she became the National Champion of Female Percussionists in Peru and has traveled throughout Europe, North and South America as an ambassador of Afro-Peruvian music and dance. Peta is also an educator—a remarkably charismatic percussion and dance teacher for all ages and levels.

Ayla Davila

Bass

Ayla Davila, a Bay Area native of Guatemalan descent, is a highly seasoned instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and one of the busiest bass players in the Bay Area latin music scene. Ayla has been a founding member of bands such as La Mixta Criolla, Carne Cruda and plays for several latin bands among them Mario y Su Timbeko, LaTido and Jesus Diaz y su Qba. Ayla was also a founding member of Mexican roots ensemble “Los Cenzontles”.

Lichi Fuentes

Vocals, Hand Percussion

Lichi Fuentes is a singer, choral director and multi-instrumentalist born in San Fernando, Chile. The youngest of a musical family of 7 brothers and sisters, she came to the Bay Area in 1980. Currently, Lichi is the director of La Peña Community Chorus, a member of Bobi Céspedes Band and Bululú. She has played with prominent Afro Cuban bands such as Conjunto Céspedes, Jesus Díaz y su QBA, Grupo Raiz (Chile) and founder of the all-women ensemble Altazor. Lichi has also worked extensively as an educator of Latin American music.

Fernanda Bustamante

Vocals

Fernanda Bustamante, vocalist and violinist from Peru, has spent a lifetime performing. She started playing the violin when she was three years old and started singing when she was 10. She trained classically on the violin for 15 years before she entered the world of Latin music, rhythms, and improvisation. There, she discovered her love for traditional and folkloric music and dance. Today she performs with various musical groups around the Bay Area including Bululú, The KTO Project, Jose Roberto and Friends, and Vinic-Kay. She is also an Afro-Peruvian dancer and musician for De Rompe y Raja Cultural Association.

Norma Kansau

Vocals

Norma was born in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela. She is the 4th sibling of a family of 6 (among them, Jose Gregorio) and started singing folkloric music at an early age along with her brothers. By their teenage years the Kansau siblings had founded a church choir in Venezuela and had the opportunity of touring within the country and parts of Europe, earning a number of awards along the way. Norma has been a Bay Area artist for over 20 years, and has participated as a vocalist in musical projects from Perú, Venezuela and México. She brings a healthy dose of joy and enthusiasm to her performances, which are part of her stamp and sound.

Jose Gregorio Kansau

Vocals

Jose Gregorio Kansau is a Venezuelan tenor with an ample trajectory in lyrical and popular music. For the past 25 years, he has earned numerous awards and recognitions as a vocalist as well as led his own touring ensemble in Mérida, Venezuela, called “Tango Quintet”. His talent, versatility and experience paved the way to various national and international appearances. In 1995, he was endowed with “La Voz Universitaria” a highly prestigious mention which propelled his career as one of the most notable and powerful vocalists in Venezuela. His passion as a singer lies in the areas of boleros, tangos, classical, jazz and blues.

Jessy Díaz

Tuesday, 25 August 2020 21:28

MP Artists Roster

Jessy Díaz is a highly motivated and energetic musician (singer, percussionist, musicologist, and teacher) with international exposure. Originally from Cuba, as a performer she focuses on the Latin jazz, cha-cha-cha, danzón, son, mambo, and bolero genres. Not only is she an excellent singer, she is also competent in playing a wide range of musical instruments. As a multi-instrumentalist artist and music teaching professional, she endeavors to give her all in each single performance and project and is fully committed to providing a solid education and instilling music appreciation in all her students.

Before emigrating to the U.S., Jessy had the opportunity to perform with the Matanzas Symphonic Orchestra (Matanzas, Cuba), University of Arts Symphonic Orchestra (Havana, Cuba), Falide Youth Band (Matanzas, Cuba), and Suns of Cuba (Matanzas, Cuba).

One of the highlights of her career include a performance for President Barack Obama during a Cuban State Dinner in Havana, Cuba, on March 21, 2016. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2017, she has performed at various venues in Florida and Georgia.

A well-rounded music professional, in addition to performing live on stage, working on several studio recording projects, and being a dynamic and energetic teacher, she is also a sought-after Cuban and Aftro-Cuban music lecturer.

Recordings

CD/DVD: Arsenio Rodríguez Tribute, EGREM Productions, Havana, Cuba, (2011)
CD: Cuba Now Danzon. Alejandro Falcon, ABDALA Productions, Havana, Cuba (2013)
CD: Llegó la Failde. Failde Youth Band, EGREM Productions, Havana, Cuba (2016)

Bands

Matanzas Symphonic Orchestra, Matanzas , Cuba (2007-2010)
University of Arts Symphonic Orchestra, Havana, Cuba (2011-2013)
Failde Youth Band, Matanzas, Cuba (2007-2016)
Suns of Cuba, Varadero, Matanzas, Cuba (2015-2016)
Qband, Miami, United States of America (2017)
NSU Orchestra Performance, Florida, U.S.A. (2017)

TV Appearances

2013 – Havana, Cuba: Chispa juvenil, Música y más, Paréntesis, Educativo Channel
2016 – Havana, Cuba: Nuestra Canción, Clave Channel
2017 – Miami, Florida: Esta Noche Si, MegaTV Channel, Miami, Florida

For booking inquiries please contact:

Montuno Productions, Inc.

Attn. Luis R. Mendoza

Tel. (510) 586-3215