When Jose "Juicy" Jusino was three years old, his father taught him to play the congas, bongos, and timbales. At the age of five, Juicy's father took him to see Tito Puente and his Orchestra, and encouraged the child to play with a group of children who were playing with Tito. Those children turned out to be Bobby Allende, Tito Allende and Marc Quiñones, and the band became known as The Rumberitos All Stars. The group played with Tito Puente at the Corso, Madison Square Garden, Avery Fischer Hall and at many other locations. Tito also gathered the Rumberitos to do a show with Julio Iglesias. When he was seven years old, Juicy performed with the Fania All Stars, which included Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto and Hector Lavoe. His first recorded performance came at the age of nine when he played timbales on a song called Saludo Cordial for Jose Mangual's album Para Bailar Y Gozar. Juicy sites Tito Puente as one of the most important influences in his life.

Nelson Rodriguez is a very talented and versatile singer from Cuba, who is well known around the city, being the leader for Tres Del Solar. Now he join forces with Arturo Ortiz, master pianist, arranger & producer, to create this new ensemble of musicians, expand on the repertoire and possibilities, with the sole purpose of making you dance to great hits from various artists, from beginning to end!! We present you with Nel Rodriguez y el Clan!

Music by DJ J Loco

Lead vocal & Tres guitar - Jose "Pepito" Gomez 

José "Pepito" Gómez began his musical career in Camagüey, Cuba. His first professional gig was as lead vocalist with the legendary group Maravilla de Florida. After two years, he moved to Havana, where he joined La Charanga Latina and had his first opportunity to tour Europe and North America. Also he worked with other groups, including Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Colé-Colé, Azúcar Negra, and Compay Segundo (Buena Vista Social Club). In 2008, Gómez moved to New York City, where he would continue singing with a number of groups including Los Hacheros, led by Jacob Plasse. Later, Gómez, Plasse and Michael Eckroth formed a Cuban Big Band called Orquesta Akokán. In 2018, their self-titled new album was acclaimed across the globe and earned both Grammy as well as Latin Billboard nominations. The band is on a road for world-wide touring.

Music by DJ J Loco

With over 35 years of successful music career and as a recording musician/musician and artist Willy Torres is one of the best Latin/salsa dance bands in the New York City (east Coast) area. Throughout Torres’s career there has been hundreds of albums of which he has been a part of, in part as: producer, arranger, vocalist, background vocalist, vocal coach, musical Director, pianist, multi percussionist, multi instrumentalist to name a few. Mr. Torres has made a name for himself as a first call musician in every level out of the New York area, although originally from Puerto Rico. It is very common for Mr. Torres to get flown all over the world when it pertains to producing and recording major international albums.

Arturo Ortiz was born in Santurce, PR, raised in Carolina, PR. Started playing since tha age of 4… Professionally at 17, came to NY in ’83, at the age of 24. Earliest bands in PR, San Felipe ’74, Perignon, Tito Allen, Johnny El Bravo, Freddy Kenton, Conjunto Canayón. In addition to being a great pianist, Arturo also is probably the top synthesizer programmer, for Salsa acts such as Marc Anthony’s and Ruben Blades’ band tours.

Ray Delgado was born in NYC and grew up between New York and Puerto Rico. Ray studied music at the East Harlem Music School and took lessons at Boys Harbor Music School. His main instrument are the bongos.

GRUPO OCHO – Their sound is huge, versatile and surely irresistible to your dancing shoes. Come see for yourself why they have taken this City by storm and have quickly become a crowd favorite embellishing our dancing floor with multiple music genres like Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue and Bachata. This sensational band is comprised of some of the best musical talent in New York City. Grupo Ocho is headed and directed by renowned Pianist, Arturo Ortiz, who has worked with some of the top artists in the Salsa genre such as Marc Anthony and Ruben Blades, just to name a few. The band features Puerto Rican Recording Artist, Luisito Rentas, as their lead singer. Born in the small town of Juana Diaz, Luisito began his music journey by the age of five when he became the lead singer for popular local group La Rondallita Juanadina as they went on to perform and entertain crowds all over the island for several years. Lusito later moved to New York City and worked with many of the top-tier salsa bands, including writing and recording several songs for folk-music artists and also recording an instrumental Album with renowned Fania All Stars’ Legend, Yomo Toro. GRUPO OCHO – Puerto Rico in the House!

A Colombian style Salsa band, Santiago Moyano is a third generation of singers in his family and fronting one of the best live Salsa performances currently in NYC. 

Music by DJ J Loco

Astoria Salsa Company is a project born out of percussionist Samuel Torres vision to put together a world class ensemble made of New York’s finest and most in demand latin musicians. Covering a wild range of latin American rhythms such as salsa, bolero and champeta played with the intensity of the city of New York.

Born and raised in Cuba with family roots in music, he started playing from the age of 5, while he began his formal studies in music at 9 and turned pro at 17 playing night clubs in Havana. In 1992 he moved to the United States (New York) starting to play in the most famous clubs in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Puerto Rico and throughout the country. He has recorded 5 CDs as a solo artist in Latin music with Universal Musica Latino. He has been nominated for several awards, including the Latin Grammy.

Sebastian Natal is an Uruguayan born multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s vast range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including English rockstar Eric Clapton, the incredible Camila Cabello, the jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, Uruguayan music group Sonora Borinquen and many more across a range of countries including Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He gained substantial commercial success, producing albums with the 5 times Grammy Award winning Willy Torres. Currently, he is the bassist of the Pedrito Martinez Group, who were nominated for Grammy and Latin Grammy a couple times.

Nelson Rodriguez is a very talented and versatile singer from Cuba, who is well known around the city, being the leader for Tres Del Solar. Now he join forces with Arturo Ortiz, master pianist, arranger & producer, to create this new ensemble of musicians, expand on the repertoire and possibilities, with the sole purpose of making you dance to great hits from various artists, from beginning to end!! We present you with Nel Rodriguez y el Clan!

Rafaelito y su Tumbao is a Latin Salsa Band, an Orchester conveying the temperament, fever, and terrific rhythm of Latin America during each performance. That is a project of Rafael Pareja. After having performed on Latin, Jazz and Salsa stages for many years, the Peruvian decided to found their own Salsa band which refers to the old structure of the New York Salsa style and deals with the Cuban and afro-Antillean music as well as expressions of the Latin American music having origin in the Cuban music. The Latin band consists of young and experienced musicians whose characteristics are to combine a powerful part of the passion and successful interplay which leads to a compact and clear sound. It is also mentionable that more than 20 musicians within the Munich Germany, Lima Peru, and New York USA music scene take an active part in this project taking turns occasionally.

Chino Pons was born in 1971 in San Miguel del Padron, Havana, Cuba ,one of the poorest neighborhoods in Havana; surrounded by the Abakua Plantes, Bembe and Rumba cultures. Growing up in an environment of traditional and Afro-Cuban music, among musicians and legendary dancers from 1940's and 1950's, had a great influence on him and inspired him to create music. Chino's relatives gave him a solid foundation in Son Cubano music, and absorbing their knowledge of Rumba Guaguanco, Yambu, Columbia, Cha Cha Cha, Danzon, and Bolero gave him the desire to create a new, more modern, sound while still maintaining many elements of traditional Cuban music. Singer, bandleader, composer, dancer and record producer. Chino Pons is considered one of the leading New York City-based Cuban musicians.

Los Hermanos De Leon are the new generation of salsa dura. They both play from the heart and give you that raw authentic in your face sound that will get you on your feet. Anthony and Tito are also known for their soloing and interacting with the audience as they start playing there trombones in the crowd.

La Excelencia’s in-your-face sound and energetic, live performances reach outside of the salsa norm, and have propelled the band to main stream audiences and venues. Inspired by the salsa sounds of the 70’s and the sociopolitical landscape of today, La Excelencia is an award-winning band from New York City that combines traditional salsa elements with a modern and unapologetic sound. Their music invigorates social mindedness amidst a powerful and danceable soundtrack

Sebastian Natal is an Uruguayan born multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s vast range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including English rockstar Eric Clapton, the incredible Camila Cabello, the jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, Uruguayan music group Sonora Borinquen and many more across a range of countries including Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He gained substantial commercial success, producing albums with the 5 times Grammy Award winning Willy Torres. Currently, he is the bassist of the Pedrito Martinez Group, who were nominated for Grammy and Latin Grammy a couple times.

El Combo Del Mañana is a salsa group made up of the next generation of young Latino musicians who are bringing back the sound, style y sabor of the great salseros of the 70’s. Leading this 13-piece ensemble is multi-instrumentalist & musical director Joshua Szeimberg, who aims to preserve the rich legacy & culture of live New York salsa.

Yuniel Jimenez "El Guajiro" (The Country Boy) is a singer-songwriter and a master tres player who came from Santa Clara, Cuba to New York City. He brought with him not only his tres-guitar but a piece of the country side of Cuba to the Big Apple. In 2012, he described his experiences in a single ¨Un Guajiro en Nueva York¨ which was also the tittle of his first album. The 12 track album depicts various life situations inside and outside of Cuba through the eyes of the Cuban singer-songwriter. In 2015, his second CD, called ¨Hay Gente Pa' To'....¨ was released. This is an album that has been enjoyed by a more diverse public. In 2017, ¨La Malicia¨ and ¨Hay Gente Pa´ To´ won the hearts of people of Medellin, Colombia and were voted #1 songs for six consecutive weeks in Latinastereo Radio Station. The genuine lyrics and unique sound of the Cuban Tres in that album will enchant any language speaker and certainly make a music listener dance!

John Rodríguez Jr. (born 1945), better known as Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez, is an American bongo player. He was the long-time bongosero for Tito Puente, and also played with Tito Rodríguez, Ray Barretto and Alfredo de la Fe. He belonged to several popular bands of the salsa era such as Tico All-Stars, Fania All-Stars and Típica 73. Rodríguez grew up in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), New York, being interested in stickball (street baseball), rather than music.[1] Nonetheless, influenced by his father, 17-year old Johnny earned a position playing bongos in the Tito Puente Orchestra. Johnny spent over 30 years with the orchestra, also working with Tito Rodríguez from 1965 to 1968 and with Ray Barretto from 1970 until the end of 1972. Johnny went on to form Típica 73, of which he remained a member until 1979. He then returned to Tito's band, playing alongside him until the time of Tito's death in May 2000.

Sebastian Natal is an Uruguayan born multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s vast range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including English rockstar Eric Clapton, the incredible Camila Cabello, the jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, Uruguayan music group Sonora Borinquen and many more across a range of countries including Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He gained substantial commercial success, producing albums with the 5 times Grammy Award winning Willy Torres. Currently, he is the bassist of the Pedrito Martinez Group, who were nominated for Grammy and Latin Grammy a couple times.

With over 35 years of successful music career and as a recording musician/musician and artist Willy Torres is one of the best Latin/salsa dance bands in the New York City (east Coast) area. Throughout Torres’s career there has been hundreds of albums of which he has been a part of, in part as: producer, arranger, vocalist, background vocalist, vocal coach, musical Director, pianist, multi percussionist, multi instrumentalist to name a few. Mr. Torres has made a name for himself as a first call musician in every level out of the New York area, although originally from Puerto Rico. It is very common for Mr. Torres to get flown all over the world when it pertains to producing and recording major international albums.

La Excelencia’s in-your-face sound and energetic, live performances reach outside of the salsa norm, and have propelled the band to main stream audiences and venues. Inspired by the salsa sounds of the 70’s and the sociopolitical landscape of today, La Excelencia is an award-winning band from New York City that combines traditional salsa elements with a modern and unapologetic sound. Their music invigorates social mindedness amidst a powerful and danceable soundtrack

Yuniel Jimenez "El Guajiro" (The Country Boy) is a singer-songwriter and a master tres player who came from Santa Clara, Cuba to New York City. He brought with him not only his tres-guitar but a piece of the country side of Cuba to the Big Apple. In 2012, he described his experiences in a single ¨Un Guajiro en Nueva York¨ which was also the tittle of his first album. The 12 track album depicts various life situations inside and outside of Cuba through the eyes of the Cuban singer-songwriter. In 2015, his second CD, called ¨Hay Gente Pa' To'....¨ was released. This is an album that has been enjoyed by a more diverse public. In 2017, ¨La Malicia¨ and ¨Hay Gente Pa´ To´ won the hearts of people of Medellin, Colombia and were voted #1 songs for six consecutive weeks in Latinastereo Radio Station. The genuine lyrics and unique sound of the Cuban Tres in that album will enchant any language speaker and certainly make a music listener dance!

Sebastian Natal is an Uruguayan born multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, seasoned performer and music producer. He is proficient in piano, bass, percussion, trumpet, trombone and vocals across a range of genres including salsa, samba, tango, Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban timba, Latin Jazz, candombe, Argentine Folklore and son. Sebastian’s vast range of talents have landed him many opportunities all over the world, touring with and playing alongside a range of artists including English rockstar Eric Clapton, the incredible Camila Cabello, the jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, Uruguayan music group Sonora Borinquen and many more across a range of countries including Argentina, Europe, Uruguay, Asia, Latin America and North America. He gained substantial commercial success, producing albums with the 5 times Grammy Award winning Willy Torres. Currently, he is the bassist of the Pedrito Martinez Group, who were nominated for Grammy and Latin Grammy a couple times.

With over 35 years of successful music career and as a recording musician/musician and artist Willy Torres is one of the best Latin/salsa dance bands in the New York City (east Coast) area. Throughout Torres’s career there has been hundreds of albums of which he has been a part of, in part as: producer, arranger, vocalist, background vocalist, vocal coach, musical Director, pianist, multi percussionist, multi instrumentalist to name a few. Mr. Torres has made a name for himself as a first call musician in every level out of the New York area, although originally from Puerto Rico. It is very common for Mr. Torres to get flown all over the world when it pertains to producing and recording major international albums.