Trivia on Latin Big Bands - the Golden Age of Mambo

EVENT CHECKLIST:  1) $25   2) Lawn Chair   3) Potluck cu there!!!!!!!!! event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/112008099677112/

23 Piece Mambo Orchestra.  July 4th.  Montclair So we went over our new original “Deliverance (Mambo Ha-GiLei” and other tunes on Tuesday.    The excitement is growing as the celebration nears.  So many people are involved with  this project and I love seeing my friends, some new, some old, the teamwork involved, the good vibes, and just the whole thing about this makes me so happy to be a part of it.   A tremendous “Thank you” to Father Benny and the Immaculate Conception Church for donating the use of its meeting facility on June 5th and June 19th     Also a big “Thank you” to the Salvation Army facility in Montclair for the donation of its use for our Final  rehearsal I am saving my last and biggest thank you (to the band members) for after the event!!!!!!!!!! Event details   https://www.facebook.com/events/112008099677112/?ti=icl

The meaning behind this original composition. As you may already have read, I wrote a composition for a 23 piece Mambo Orchestra entitled "Deliverance (Mambo Hagilei).  I want you all to know the meaning behind this work.  The composition molded itself to be a musical chronical of the emotions we went through during my wife's health struggle in 2013.  This work begins with a serious tone in the key of G minor.  Very akin to how life-changing that day started in October of 2013.  The Trumpet solo in G minor reminds me of how focused we were in getting a handle on the situation those first few days.  The diagnosis is described by the orchestra with slamming chords as hard and cold as the news we got from the doctors.  The next set of four bar repeats describe the series of adaptations my wife had to go through following neurosurgery including the loss of her short-term memory, inability to walk,  and subsequent chemotherapy....

23 Piece Mambo Big Band.  July 4th.  Montclair NJ Bob Kenselaar plays saxophone – mostly tenor and soprano – and has performed at restaurants, bars, private parties, and outdoor music festivals in New Jersey and New York for more than 20 years.  Venues where he’s played include  the Stone Pony and Convention Hall in Asbury Park, Highlawn Pavilion and The Manor in West Orange, Scotland Yard in Hoboken, Trumpets in Montclair, and Maplewoodstock.  He is a former Assistant Curator of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, longtime staff member at The New York Public Library, and a senior contributor for  All About Jazz .   Now Bob joins us to bring back the music of Tito Puente, Machito and Tito Rodriguez from the 50s at the Palladium Event details below https://www.facebook.com/events/112008099677112/?ti=icl

$25 Donation and Potluck.  23 Piece Mambo Big Band   11am & 2pm.   July 4th. 31 Midland Ave, Montclair John Vilefort born in Newark, New Jersey, is an up and coming instrumental reed artist. He has performed with a variety of groups including Latin bands, Pop groups, Jazz combos, and pit orchestras. Going into his last year at New Jersey City University, John is honored to be a part of this great cause for the Kessler Foundation, playing next to great musicians. See you there July 4th!  On July 4th listen to John as he plays with AfroCuba a 23 piece latin big band that will jam with tunes from the Palladium days in the 50s   Bring yor $25 donation to Kessler Foundation, a potluck a lawn chair and your dancing shoes Event details here https://www.facebook.com/events/112008099677112/?ti=icl

23 Piece Mambo Orchestra -  11am    31 Midland Ave, Montclair  July 4 Event link here Federico was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and  has performed with many Latin bands, classical orchestras, as well as for many theater companies on both tenor and bass trombone.    His Broadway credits are vast but include Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof. As an educator Federico is on staff with the Gramercy Brass of New York Band Camp as a Trombone instructor, a position he has held for the last ten years. He also worked with the Gramercy Brass of New York’s “Polishing the Brass” program as an instructor. This program would bring music education, concentrating on brass instruments to inner city children, which did not have these opportunities available to them. Federico's Full Bio  here To like AfroCuba Band click below:

AfroCuba Mambo Orchestra plays at 11am, July 4th   @ 31 Midland Ave  Thank you to the Montclair Antique Center on Church Street in Montclair for donating the big tent for our guests at the fundraiser for the Kessler Foundation.  Click on the above to like  Montclair Antique Center Event details Big Band starts playing at 11am so don't miss it!!!!!!

23 Piece Mambo Big Band Event July 4th, 31 Midland Ave, Montclair  11am Trombonist Michael Pallas is based in New York City and has been performing professionally for more than ten years.  Shortly after his arrival in the metropolitan area, he began pursuing a career in the latin music field, while maintaining his position as faculty member with the Music Conservatory of Westchester, New York. Known for his clear tone and melodic improvisation, Pallas earned his bachelor of music from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where he graduated Cum Laude. He has performed at various venues in New York City, including Lincoln Center, Webster Hall and B.B. King’s.  As a musician with ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic, Pallas has recently emerged on the New York salsa scene, appearing alongside notable musicians such as Eddie Palmieri, Mauricio Smith, Jr., Victor Waill and Raulin Rosendo....

Prodigy from Havana Joins John Acevedo's  23 Piece Mambo Band July 4th, Montclair Ahmed Alom Vega (Havana, 1998) He started his musical studies at the Manuel Saumell and  Amadeo Roldan Conservatory in Havana, then, he graduated from the Bellas Artes Conservatory in Mexico City. He has been awarded first place in some of the most important piano competitions in America: the National Chamber Music Competition (Mexico), XXI Piano Competition (Xalapa) , UNEAC Piano Competition (Havana), and the Maria Clara Cullell Piano Competition, Costa Rica  (becoming the youngest  winner  in the history of the competition). He won 4th place in the J.J.Cuevas International Piano Competition, sponsored by Yamaha Mexico; and in the Bradshaw and Buono Competition (New York City). He has played as a classical and jazz pianist in festivals in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica and Cuba. Awarded with a full scholarship, he will obtain his ...

Prodigy from Havana Joins John Acevedo's  23 Piece Mambo Band July 4th, Montclair Ahmed Alom Vega (Havana, 1998) He started his musical studies at the Manuel Saumell and  Amadeo Roldan Conservatory in Havana, then, he graduated from the Bellas Artes Conservatory in Mexico City. He has been awarded first place in some of the most important piano competitions in America: the National Chamber Music Competition (Mexico), XXI Piano Competition (Xalapa) , UNEAC Piano Competition (Havana), and the Maria Clara Cullell Piano Competition, Costa Rica  (becoming the youngest  winner  in the history of the competition). He won 4th place in the J.J.Cuevas International Piano Competition, sponsored by Yamaha Mexico; and in the Bradshaw and Buono Competition (New York City). He has played as a classical and jazz pianist in festivals in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica and Cuba. Awarded with a full scholarship, he will obtain his Bache...

Mike Mullan will be with us on July 4th, 2018 @11AM Mike plays with teh Drifters, One More Once Big Band, Grammy-Nominated Noshir Mody band, MuskFest Festival in Pennsylvania and did a 3 year stint with the Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus Mike is going to be smokin on Independence Day!!!!! Event details below https://www.facebook.com/events/112008099677112/ Wednesday July 4th, 2018 31 Midland Ave Montclair NJ 07042 11AM-12:30PM &  2PM-3PM $25 donation per  upto 6 person family & Potluck This is the potluck party of the year! Its like the heart of Montclair converges for an explosion of floats,and marching bands, food, neighbors, Friends and of course a huge 23 piece Latin Big Band - AFROCUBA Band on my front porch playing tunes from Tito Puente, Machito and more. We will also be raising donations for the Kessler Foundation that was instrumental in my wife's (Gisella Millan's) recovery....

23 Piece Mambo Big Band led by John Acevedo We are so excited that Ricky Rosa, among the goto Latin Percussionists in Manhattan, decided to spend his July 4th with AfroCuba.    “Just to do this for such a great cause is what made my mind up”, Ricky said.   Then I told him that  Miguelo Valdes, Carlos Mena, Mac Gollehon, Mike Mullan, Federico Perez, Ben Frank, Gina Maria Paoli, Tito Rivera and 15 others were going to be there AND that he would be “stretching his talents to the max” by conjuring up a living legend, Tito Puente  .........”oh it was on after that” he said Back in the late 40s, Tito Puente was the first person that moved the Timbales up to the front of the Band.    Yeah, “eso fue Tito”.   This singular move coupled with Tito’s immense chops added the “P” in Personality to Latin music forever.      Now, Ricky will be at the front of AfroCuba’s 23 Piece Mabo Big Band-led by musical director John Acevedo.  ...