Oriente López

Oriente Lopez was born in Havana, Cuba. He earned a BA in Music from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Cuba and a Masters Degree in Fine Arts at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Oriente’s musical artistry interfaces various styles, classical, jazz, Brazilian, and Cuban folklore. Three of Oriente’s recent collaborations were awarded Grammy’s 2000, 2001, 2005. Oriente has been performing internationally as a pianist and flautist, for over 25 years. He has collaborated with Silvio Rodriguez (Cuba), Chico Buarque de Holanda (Brazil), Chucho Valdés (Cuba), Arturo Sandoval (Cuba), Fito Páez (Argentina) and Pablo Milané(Cuba), Paul Simon (USA), Paquito D’Rivera (Cuba), Marc Anthony (Puerto Rico), Ruben Blades (USA), Regina Carter (USA), Charlie Haden (USA), Gonzalo Rubalcaba (Cuba), and other artists. He has distinguished himself as a composer and has been especially prolific as arranger. Oriente's compositions and arrangements are recorded and performed by numerous performers throughout the world.

Olga Merediz

Olga Merediz, star of stage, screen and television, is currently starring in critically acclaimed new Broadway Musical IN THE HEIGHTS. A Tulane University graduate, Olga was born in Guantánamo (Cuba) and raised in Puerto Rico. She has an extensive background in radio, TV, theater and film. Her Broadway credits include: Mama Mia, Reckless, Man of La Mancha, Les Misérables, The Human Comedy. Film credits include: Changing Lanes, K-Pax, Evita, Center Stage, Requiem for a Dream, Music of the Heart, Isn’t She Great, City of Hope, Apartment 5 C (Cannes Film Festival), The Milagro Beanfield War (directed by Robert Redford) among others. Some of her TV credits include: Au Pair III for ABC Family to be screened in August 2008, The Sopranos, Law & Order, The Bill Cosy Show, among others. Some of her Off-Broadway credits include Taming of the Shrew, Thornhill, Mothers have Nine Lives, The Haggadah. Lullabye and Goodnight. She enjoys doing bi-lingual voice-over and jingle work in New York, Los Angeles and

Miami. 

Eddie Allen

Trumpeter, composer, arranger and author Eddie Allen studied music, theory and arranging at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay before moving to the east coast. He then attended the William Paterson University of New Jersey where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. Since his arrival to New York worked with such jazz greats as; Art Blakey, Billy Harper, Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, Henry Threadgill, Bobby Watson, Jon Faddis, Benny Carter, Panama Francis, Joe Henderson and Steve Turre. He has recorded and performed with, as well as composed for: Louis Hayes, Lester Bowie, Jack McDuff, Etta Jones & Houston Person, Mongo Santamaria, Chico Freeman, Charli Persip, Vanessa Rubin and Muhal Richard Abrams.  He's performed in the orchestras of such Broadway hits as: Ain't Misbehavin', Black & Blue, Side Show, Jelly's Last Jam, Five Guys Named Mo' and Rollin' On the T.O.B.A.  As an author, he's written the instructional method book, "An Introduction To The Bb Concert Blues," which is published by Charles Colin Publishing - N.Y.C.  He's currently leading a quartet, a quintet, a Latin/Brasilian project and a large ensemble which brings together acoustic and electric/electronic instruments. He also leads a big band which not only plays his compositions and arrangements, but also the music of such jazz greats as Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson, Muhal Richard Abrams and Rufus Reid as they come to lead the band. Eddie Allen continues to work as a freelance musician and clinician.

Eddie Allen

Aaron Heick

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Aaron is a freelance musician currently living in New York City. Primarily a saxophonist but also specializing in many other woodwind instruments, Aaron has made a career of traveling through a diverse range of musical territory. He regularly backs up artists from the worlds of Popular Music, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Brazilian, Latin, African, Classical and Avant-Garde music. An active member of the New York studio scene, he is also heard on many movie and television sound tracks.  Highlights of Aaron’s career include working with Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Richard Bona. Aaron is featured on all 4 of Richard’s solo albums and the DVD documentary “Richard Bona - African Tale”.  Other highlights include performances and recordings with artists such as Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Donald Fagen, Sting, James Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Suzanne Vega, Vonda Shepard, Cyndi Lauper, Audra McDonald, Phillip Glass, Vanessa Williams, Barry Manilow, Boz Skaggs, Ben E. King, Bobby Caldwell, Steps Ahead, The Manhattan Transfer, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jennifer Holliday, Dennis Chambers, Jim Beard, Grover Washington Jr., Willie Colon, Issac Delgado, and Ray Baretto.  Aaron also continues to be a member of ex-Miles Davis sideman Adam Holzman’s band “Brave New World,”,who he has played with for over the past 12 years.

Aaron Heick

Reut Regev

Trombonist, composer, and educator Reut Regev was born and raised in Israel. Since arriving at NYC in 1998 Reut has taken part of various musical projects, playing Jazz, Latin music, contemporary classical, world music and much more. She has worked with Anthony Braxton, Butch Morris, Eddie Bobe, Mark Helias, Reggie Nicholson, Dave Douglas, Billy Bang, Frank London, among others. Reut co-leads with her husband, drummer Igal Foni, her current project R*TIME. Reut Regev was awarded the title "Best New Talent of 2004" by All About Jazz Magazine.

Itaiguara Brandao

Itaiguara is an electric bass player and acoustic guitar player from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He performed in his country for over ten years, before moving to Boston in 1993 to climb a higher step in his music learning. Since his arrival to Boston, he has been involved in several live performances, radio/TV appearances, and CD recordings.  After receiving a Professional Music Achievement Award from Berklee College of Music in 1995, he moved to New York City, where he has performed and recorded with many great artists such as Paulo Braga as musical director, Randy Brecker, Paul Winter, Paquito de Rivera, Robin Eubanks, Dave Kikoski, Emilio Santiago, Elba Ramalho, Guilherme Arantes, Bebel Gilberto, Romero Lubambo, Jay Ashby, Hugo Fattoruso.

Itaiguara Brandao

Mauricio Herrera

Born in Holguín (Cuba) in 1972, Mauricio first entered the world of music at age 7, playing violin, but by 14 began studying percussion. After graduation he began playing in various popular groups, including Caribe Nibor and the folkloric group La Campana. In 1994 he moved to La Habana to broaden his horizons. There, he played, toured, and recorded with the likes of Hector Valentin, La Barriada, Pachito Alonso, Manolin el médico de la salsa, Manolito Simonet and Paulito FG. He also worked with Amaury Gutierrez, David Torrens and Domingo Quiñones amongst others. In February, 2005 Mauricio moved to New York and has played with Son de Madre,Yerba Buena, Yosvany Terry Afro-Cuban Roots, Osmany Paredes Quartet, Grupo Ibboru, Bryan Lynch, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Minino Band, Dany Lozada, La Bola, Obbini Tumbao, Michelle Rosewoman, and Candido Camero among others.

Mauricio Herrera

Pedro Martinez

Born and raised in Havana, percussionist Pedro Pablo Martinez won the Thelonious Monk Institute Competition of 1999.  Pedro began his musical career at the age of 11, performing as vocalist and percussionist in an Afro-Cuban folkloric ensemble. He has collaborated with Juan Bencomo, Félix “Pupi” Insua, Hugo Oslé, Lázaro Ros, Merceditas Valdés,  master Pancho Quinto, Yoruba Andabo, Román Díaz, percussion master Tata Güines, Jane Bunnett,  Orlando Ríos “Puntilla”, Steve Turre, Johnny Rivero and the LP All-Stars, Eddie Palmieri, Antonia Bennett, Paquito D’Rivera, Bebo Valdés, the Conga Kings (Candido Camero, Patato Valdés, and Giovanni Hidalgo), Raíces Habaneras, Jon Faddis, Richard Bona, Herbie Hancock, and Yerba Buena among many others. On the screen Pedro has been featured in Fernando Trueba’s documentary Calle 54 as well as the 2004 film production, Havana Nights, and Pinero, TV series OZ, Third Watch, Dame la Mano, and The Cuban Americans. Pedro is also the leader of the group Ibboru and just released his debut album “Slave to Africa.”

Pedro Martinez

Roman Diaz