Fito Reinoso with Ritmo y Armonia
If you are looking for the scorching rhythms of Cuban new-wave, Fito Reinoso and Ritmo y Armonia is guaranteed to please. Called "the Bay Area's up-an-coming band" by Latin Beat magazine, the band features an undeniable Cuban sound, which reflects Cuba's street beat as well as its broad musical heritage. "Ritmo y Armonia" plays primarily original music, composed by Fito and inspired by contemporary Cuban rhythms. The orchestra plays more traditional Cuban genres such as son-montuno, cha-cha-cha, and bolero but always with a sound that is authentic. And don’t miss Fito and his band weekly at hot salsa dancing spots such as The Ramp, Cafe Pier 23, and Club Jelly's.
Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble
The Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble (tri to a septet) plays a vast variety of Latin music, including Cuban music from the 50's to contemporary dance music. Josh Jones has recorded with many well-known Latin jazz musicians and his band comprises some of the Bay Area's finest musicians.
Manicato
The word Manicato, derived from the Native People of Puerto Rico known as The Taino, means a bold and valiant person of a good heart. The band Manicato lives up to this Taino ideal with its socially conscious mix of salsa, reggae, rock, hip-hop, plena and timba.
Founded in SF's Mission district in 2004 by Israel Matos, Manicato has found a way to combine its social and musical influences into a hard-hitting form of intelligent dance music that feeds both body and mind. Manicato, featuring one of the only father and son vocal sections in the city and a horn section that well is undeniable, will have you speaking in one of the oldest languages, the universal language of music, feeding your mind, body, and soul.
Rumbaché
Rumbaché (formerly Quimbombó) has established themselves as one of the hottest Bay Area salsa bands. Fusing salsa, timba, bomba and whatever else they could find to spicen up the mood, they provide a hard hitting style of playing. And while you can hear them interpreting the classic and contemporary Cuban and Salsa repertoire, they are not shy with their own expression. Their fresh originals make them stand-out in an otherwise cover heavy salsa scene. Under the leadership of percussionist Patricio Angulo, Rumbaché is the voice of youth for San Francisco's salsa scene, and ignites enthusiasm in dancers and musical connoisseurs alike.
With a renewed commitment to public performance in 2007, Rumbaché has led a rigorous schedule of performance throughout the Bay Area, including festivals (San Jose Jazz Festival , New Orleans By The Bay,) and club dates (Jelly’s, Café Cocomo, Elbo Room, Glas Kat, La Peña Cultural Center, The Cigar Bar & Grill, Montero’s and Shattuck Down-Low Lounge).
Rumbaché features Lina Luna (lead vocals), Omar Ledezma (lead vocals & congas), Patricio Angulo (timbal, coro & musical director), Colin Douglas (trap set), Ed Morrison (trumpet), Jim Burr (trombone), Darren Smith (flute, tenor & baritone saxes, coro), Jason Moen (piano, coro), and Sam Bevan (bass).