| Noel
Quintana
 Noel
Quintana, also known as “Mr. Conga,” is a Cleveland-based
Puerto Rican percussionist, band leader, researcher, educator and
avid collector of Latin music photos, records and memorabilia. He
is the founder and artistic director of The Latin Crew, one of Cleveland’s
premiere salsa bands. He has also performed with Latin music’s
giants Tito Puente, Johnny Almendra y Los Jóvenes del Barrio,
Luís Romero y Mazacote, Richie Ray, Pedro Jesús, Anthony
Cruz, Andy Montañez, and Tommy Olivencia, among others.
Born
in New York City, Quintana grew up surrounded by Afro-Caribbean
music. His uncle owned a record store, and he began to build his
own record collection early on. After a neighbor introduced him
to Luis Romero, a renowned percussionist and recording artist, Quintana
began to take private lessons on the conga drums. He furthered his
formal music education at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing
Arts in the Museo del Barrio where he studied Afro-Cuban and Afro-Puerto
Rican styles as well as contemporary urban salsa with “Little”
Ray Romero, Johnny Almendra, Luis “Timbalito” Romero,
and Pedro Fernéndez. In New York, he began to perform professionally
with the band Sabor Boricua and a few Colombian salsa bands that
favored Cuban and Puerto Rican percussionists.
In
1991 Quintana moved to Cleveland where he performed and recorded
with the band Impacto Nuevo, but In 1996 he was back in New York
to play with the charanga group Johnny Almendra y Los Jóvenes
del Barrio, Papo Pepin, and Conjunto Bembé. One year later,
he was back in Ohio, participating in the late pianist Roberto Ocasio’s
Latin Jazz Project and in Grupo Fuego.
On
October 16, 1999 he founded this own band, The Latin Crew, with
a desire to have greater artistic and managerial control. The group
has performed at the Touch Supper Club, Belinda’s Nightclub,
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Columbus Latino Festival, and
many other programs and is considered today as one of the region’s
premier salsa bands. Besides his own group, Quintana is also member
of the Cleveland Salsa All Stars, and he performs with other local
bands including Grupo K-Non and Ernie Krivda & The Fat Tuesday
Big Band. Noel Quintana was also the host of the radio show “Rítmo
Latino” on WDLW 1380 AM show for three years starting in 1998.
As
an educator, Noel Quintana has taught for Northeast Ohio Jazz Society’s
Banda Hispana Cultural and the Julia de Burgos Community Center
for 16 years. He also teaches private lessons in Latin percussion
and he offers assembly performance programs for schools and cultural
centers.
Nelson
Orta elson Orta
 Nelson
Orta was one of the founding members of Impacto Nuevo, the leading salsa
band in Cleveland for several years and remains one of the top-call
Latin percussionists in the Cleveland area. We are fortunate to have
his dynamic sound on bongos and other Latin percussion. He also teaches
at Julia de Burgos Community Center with Noel. He
also was selected to play bongos for the Cleveland Salsa All Stars to
back up Richie Ray at the 2004 Puerto Rican Parade. Between engagements
with The Latin Crew and Sammy DeLeon, Nelson keeps a very full schedule
of playing both in the Cleveland area and on many out of town gigs.
Tito
DeJesus Jr.Tito DeJesus Jr.
Tito is
one of the busiest piano players on the Cleveland Latin music scene,
and we welcome his return to the Crew after a several year hiatus. Besides
playing with the Latin Crew in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he has
also played for Grupo K-Non, Banda Dura, Roberto Ocasio's Latin Jazz
Project, Merengue Power, Sammy DeLeon, and several others. He also studied
with Richie Ray and continues to hone his talents. On Friday nights
when he is not performing, he can also be found DJ-ing at Belinda's
Nightclub.
Hector
Torres ector Torres
Hector
originally started with
Leyito's Old School Neighborhood Orchestra. When our usual timbale player
is unavailable, he can be counted on to fill in. Some of the charts
in the Crew's repertiore are also arranged by him.
Frankie
Lopez rankie Lopez - Bass
Frankie
has a long history in the Cleveland salsa scene and has run several
of his own bands in the past including Ahi-Nama. Besides bass, he is
also an accomplished tres player. Due to a job shift change, his work
schedule required that he step down for a while but he still remains
available to fill in.
Cheito
Hernandez - Alumnus
Musical director,
arranger, and outstanding bass player has added a lot to the growth
of The Latin Crew over the last few years. Cheo has also played with
Sammy DeLeon, Impacto Nuevo, and Grupo Kanon. Cheo is one of the top
Latin bass players in Cleveland, and we are fortunate to have him back
in the group
Miguel
Matos - Alumnus
Miguel
provides a strong second voice to the coro section as well as fine
lead vocals on several of our newtunes. When not performing with
us, he can also be found singing with Invacion Secreta.
Jason
Smith - Alumnusumnus
Jason Smith
joined the Crew in 2004 and brings a strong sound to the trombone position.
Jason began playing trombone at the age of eleven. He studied at Florida
State University for two years, and finished his undergraduate studies
at the University of South Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s
degree in jazz performance. In Cleveland he has quickly established
himself, having performed with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Cleveland
Jazz Orchestra, and the Blossom Festival Band. He has also performed
in various shows at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, including the
Nutcracker, and renowned artists such as Johnny Mathis and Michael W.
Smith. Jason is on adjunct faculty at Cleveland State University, teaching
trombone and euphonium. He was appointed to CSU in 2006. |
Mike
Marks
 Mike
first came onto the Cleveland Latin scene in 1996 starting with Orquesta
Creativa. He then joined with Orchesta Nabori and remained with them
until late 2001, at which point he joined up with The Latin Crew. The
experience gained with The Crew has made him one of the more popular
Latin trumpet players on the Cleveland scene, and he has also played
with Son Alegre, Grupo Fuego, Invacion Secreta, Conjunto Kawakan, Grupo
K-Non, Leyito y Su Orchesta, Orquesta Nissi, Conjunto Carnaval, and
Sammy De Leon. On a trip to Cancun in 2003, he had the honor of performing
with Grammy Award winner Aramis Galindo and was selected as lead trumpet
player for the "Salsa All Stars" band to back up Richie Ray
at the 2004 Cleveland Puerto Rican Parade. Due to a job change, he temporarily
relocated to the Raleigh, NC area and performed with local bands Color
Latino and Samecumba as
well as with Atlanta-based TamBoricua
but has now returned to Cleveland and resumed his spot with the Latin
Crew. Additional stars he has played with include Andy Montanez, Pedro
Jesus, Anthony Cruz, Tommy Olivencia, Hector Tricoche, Tony Vega, and
Tito Puente Jr..
By
day, he is a software engineer with NDI
Medical and also reviews video equipment for Widescreen
Review Magazine. Click here for
Mike's music schedule and availability.
William
"Baby" GuzmanWilliam "Baby"
Guzman
Baby
comes from a musical family with a long history in Lorain and Cleveland
going back to the days of Orquesta Charambo. His first performance was
at the age of 6 with El Gran Combo in Puerto Rico. His brother Rafael
played congas with Sammy DeLeon for a number of years, while his sister
is an accomplished piano player in Florida. He is a longtime veteran
of Lorain's Orquesta Nabori where he played with Mike and Manny for
several years. His fine timbale playing brings finesse and style.
Ivan
"Papo" Ruizz
Papo
Ruiz adds his deep voice to the soneos and coros when he is not busy
performing with his own band, Grupo K-Non. Another veteran of the Cleveland
salsa scene, he has performed with Sammy DeLeon before making the move
to join The Latin Crew and stepping up to the role of lead singer. For
Grupo K-Non bookings, contact Papo directly at 216-401-9670.
Cristi
Fererya Cristi Fereyra
From the
Dominican Republic, Cristi is the newest member of The Latin Crew and
covers the female vocal parts. She joins us from Invacion Secreta.
Marilyn
RodriguezMarilyn Rodriguez - Alumnus
Marilyn
started out singing coro with the Cleveland Salsa All Stars in 2004
when Richie Ray came to town, and has proceeded to become lead female
vocalist with Sammy DeLeon. When not busy with Sammy, she also provides
strong coro and lead vocals for some of the new tunes in the repertoire
of The Latin Crew.
Macer
Diaz - Roadie
Macer
Diaz
Macer can
always be counted on to lend a hand for equipment setup and loading.
We are grateful for his help.
Alex
Hoyt - AlumnusAlex Hoyt - Alumnus
Alex burst
onto the scene around 2004 with Leyito's Old School Neighborhood Orchestra.
He later joined the Latin Crew, and has performed with Sammy DeLeon
and Grupo K-Non as well. In July of 2008, he relocated to the
Miami, FL area and we wish him well.
Nathan
Heath - AlumnusNathan Heath
- Alumnus
Nathan Heath
is a free-lance professional trumpet player from the Akron area who
joined the Crew in 2002. He performs in many venues throughout the greater
cleveland area and holds a Master's degree in trumpet performance from
The University of Akron, where he operates as recording engineer for
Guzzetta Recital Hall. In addition to his professional playing, Nathan
is also a devoted music educator. Before coming to Akron, he attending
Bowling Green State University where received a Bachelor's degree in
Music Education. Currently he is a part-time lecturer at Case Western
Reserve University, operates a private trumpet studio, and conducts
clinics/master classes for high school students within the Akron area.
When Nathan is not performing or teaching, he is working at Indorf
Instrument Repair, where he repairs band instruments and does his
favorite thing, custom brass design and repair.
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