From The Leaders desk

ANDRÉS GUZMÁN, A COLOMBIAN TROMBONIST BASED IN CHICAGO, HAS ACHIEVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A LATIN GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST. HIS CAREER ENCOMPASSES SYMPHONIC, OPERATIC, EARLY MUSIC, AND EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS.

IN THE SYMPHONIC AND OPERATIC REALMS, GUZMÁN HAS COLLABORATED WITH ESTEEMED INSTITUTIONS AND RENOWNED ARTISTS.

HE HAS PERFORMED WITH THE ORCHESTRA SAN ANTONIO, THE SOUTH DAKOTA SYMPHONY, AND SERVES AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE CIVIC ORCHESTRA OF CHICAGO. AS AN ACTIVE TROMBONIST WITH OPERA SAN ANTONIO, HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS ROMEO AND JULIET, THE MAGIC FLUTE, AND PAGLIACCI. IN 2019, HE RECEIVED THE LATIN GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM FOR HIS WORK WITH THE NUEVA FILARMONÍA. HE HAS ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE ORCHESTRA OF THE AMERICAS, PERFORMING IN PROJECTS FEATURING SOLOISTS Yo-YO MA AND KAYHAN KALHOR. IN 2023, HEJOINED ANDREA BOCELLIS U.S. TOUR WITH THE ORCHESTRA SAN ANTONIO.

AS A SPECIALIST IN EARLY MUSIC, GUZMÁN IS A PIONEER IN REVIVING THE SACKBUT IN COLOMBIA AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF MINISTRILES DEL NUEVO REINO DE GRANADA. WITH THIS ENSEMBLE, HE HAS PERFORMED AT LEADING EARLY AND SACRED MUSIC FESTIVALS IN LATIN AMERICA. IN THE UNITED STATES, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NEWBERRY CONSORT, JOINING A SELECT GROUP OF MUSICIANS DEDICATED TO HISTORICALLY INFORMED SACKBUT PERFORMANCE.

GUZMÁN HOLDS DEGREES FROM THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBIA, THE UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES, AND ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY IN CHICAGO. BEYOND HIS PERFORMING CAREER, HE IS A DEDICATED EDUCATOR, INSPIRING NEW GENERATIONS THROUGH A TEACHING PHILOSOPHY THAT INTEGRATES TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, RESEARCH, AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION.

ANDRES HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF TRABUCO SALSA BAND FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, TAKING PART IN THE BANDS FIRST SINGLE

"QUIBRO VERTE, ARRANGED BY GRAMMY AWARD MUSICIAN PABLO"CHINO" NUNEZ AND WRITTEN BY JOSE E. REYES JR.

HERIBERTO "BERTO" MARTINEZ JR.- BORN AUGUST 1965 IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS, MY MUSICAL INFLUENCES ARE WILLIE ROSARIO, SONORA PONCENA, OSCAR D'LEON, FANIA ALL STARS, BOBBY VALENTINE. I'VE PLAYED WITH GROUPS LIKE COMBO SABOR, LA NUEVA DIMENSION, ORO. SABOR, ORQ. ARABU, GRUPO FUEGO, I HAVE SHARED THE STAGE WITH ARTIST LIKE TiTo ALLEN, JoHNNY RIveRa, DAVID PABON, LEFTY PEREZ, CHOCO ORTA, TOMMY OLIVENCIA, OSCAR D'LEON, GRAN COMBO, I HAVE BEEN IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. MY INSPIRATION WAS MY FATHER WHO WAS A TRUMPET PLAYER AND MY UNCLE'S THAT WERE PERCUSSIONIST. LAM A PERCUSSIONIST, BASS PLAYER AND TRUMPET PLAYER. Now A MEMBER OF TRABUCO SALSA BAND, I LOOK FORWARD TO NEW CONCERTS AND MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES.

Juan Daniel Chávez (born September 15, 1993, in Guadalajara, Mexico) is a Mexican-American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, composer, educator, and co-founder of PCCCArts (2020), a non-profit arts organization bridging the opportunity gap in low- to moderate-income communities by providing enhanced access to the arts for youth and adults. With 16 years of entertainment industry experience, his career spans nearly eight years working with diverse musicians and artists.

Growing up in Coos Bay, Oregon, Daniel developed a passion for 1980s Regional Mexicano and popular Latin music. He meticulously burned cassette tapes onto CDs to adapt to changing music consumption. At ten, he acquired the clarinet, trumpet, and saxophone, aspiring to perform in a Mexican banda. After school, he joined the Oregon Coast Lab Band, preserving jazz through education and performance. He collaborated with renowned artists like Mic Gillette, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Bria Skonberg.

Daniel honed his skills throughout high school by learning, recording, and touring with the Lab Band across the West Coast. He graduated with honors and received a full-ride scholarship to the Oregon Center for the Arts (OCA) at Southern Oregon University (SOU). There, he studied music under esteemed mentors and contributed to jazz and pep band programs. He also provided student teaching, composed for ensembles, and participated in a foreign exchange program to South Korea.

Daniel led and collaborated with renowned artists, including Morgan James, as a member of the Britt Festival Orchestra. His contributions included the world premiere of “Natural History - Symphony for Nature” on PBS.

In 2016, Daniel graduated with honors from SOU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education, specializing in classical music and saxophone performance.

After graduating, Daniel embarked on a musical journey by recording his debut album, “Chillin’ with the Daniel Chavez Quartet,” at Oregon Sound Recording. The five-song album showcases his virtuosity on tenor saxophone, accompanied by his collegiate friends Brandon Crafts (guitar), Garrett Baxter (bass), Jake Riggs (drums), and Tony Hayes (tenor saxophone).

Daniel’s career took a significant turn when he signed with Lime Entertainment, securing bookings for performances and entertainment on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines. As a member, he provided musical support to comedians, dancers, and renowned artists, including Deborah Cox.

Throughout his tenure, Daniel performed on seven cruise ships across various fleets and traveled to over 30 countries, forging connections with individuals from over 100 nations.

Seeking a more grounded lifestyle and closer connection with his family, Daniel briefly relocated to Los Angeles but realized he needed a different path. In the fall of 2018, he was captivated by Chicago’s vibrant atmosphere and has since established his roots there. He currently resides in the Pilsen neighborhood with his wife, Katrise.

Daniel collaborates as a leader and side man with diverse artists across genres, reflecting Chicago’s vibrant music scene. He’s recorded, written, and performed with renowned artists like Katie Kadan, Lester Rey & Purple Tokyo, Marca MP with Banda Estrategia, and Herman Olivera & Willy Garcia with the GFC International Big Band. He frequently performs with the Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra, Rosalba Valdez, Luis Alfredo, Joaquin Garcia, and Clif Wallace.

As a community leader, Daniel co-founded, executive directed, and mentors The People’s Center for Cultural & Contemporary Arts, a non-profit arts organization that provides art and STEAM opportunities to students in under-resourced Chicago communities. Their mission is to empower students with creative skills to overcome challenges and seize future opportunities. Daniel believes the arts celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and create sustainable connections to community and networks. 

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Claudio Gariazzo began playing the trombone in middle school and, by 14, was playing Colombian salsa with friends and family at backyard parties. Whether classical, jazz, funk, or salsa, he maintained an active schedule playing with numerous Austin-based bands through grad school: Tiburón, Comborican, Ghandaia, La Tribu, The Time Machine, and numerous big bands. After living in Knoxville, Washington DC, and back to Texas, he cherishes playing with musicians who teach him the values of musicianship, leadership, friendship, humility, diligence, and ambition. Since arriving in Chicagoland for his day job, Claudio feels fortunate to continue playing, arranging, and composing with such great musicians and friends in the area. He's incredibly grateful for the honor of playing with and supporting Trabuco and aims to make his bandmates proud each time they're on stage together. 

Victor Velez, born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and raised in Chicago, found his inspiration for salsa music within his home. His mother would play salsa music while performing household chores, and he observed her joy in doing so. This discovery of his passion for music led him to become one of the most respected percussionists in Chicago. Through this experience, he realized the profound impact music can have on others and the importance of playing with passion.

At the age of 19, Victor Velez emerged as a formidable bongo player, performing with local salsa bands in Chicago. He had the privilege of backing up renowned recording artists such as Ismael Miranda, Lalo Rodriguez, Eddy Santiago, Kevin Ceballo, Tito Puente Jr., N Klave, Luisito Carrion, and Toy Vega.

Between 2017 and 2025, Victor Velez formed his first salsa band, “La KLAVE Orquesta,” a local band from Chicago. He played the congas alongside 11 musicians. His inaugural performance featured two renowned recording artists, Luisito Carrion and Toy Vega, at a banquet hall. This success propelled his band to perform at nightclubs, Colombian festivals, and numerous tours in Detroit, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Madison, Wisconsin; St. Louis, Missouri; Nebraska; Kentucky; and beyond.

Victor Velez also had the honor of sharing the stage with several exceptional recording artists, including Luisito Carrion, Tony Vega, Pedro Arroyo, Roberto Lugo, Maelo Ruiz, Willie Gonzalez, Los Adolescentes, Ruben Sierra, David Pabon, Willy del Arka, Viti Ruiz, Adriana Chamorro, Carlos Brito (former singer of Guayacán), Victor Del Rosario, Almicar Boscan, Cheo Andujar, and Cesar Salazar (former singer of Grupo Niche).

Currently, Victor Velez continues to play congas and perform with Trabuco Salsa Band.

Mark Olen, a renowned trumpeter, has collaborated with esteemed entertainers such as Tony Bennett, Michael McDonald, Al Jarreau, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, Natalie Cole, B.B. King, Roger Daltry, and David Foster.

Currently serving as the lead trumpet of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Olen has also performed alongside jazz luminaries like Kurt Elling, Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano, Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson, Randy Brecker, and Roy Hargrove.

His versatility is further demonstrated by his performances with the American Jazz Philharmonic, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Grant Park, Elgin, and Rockford Symphonies, as well as the Chicago Brass Quintet and Brass Works (of which he is the founder). Additionally, he has been a featured soloist with the Great Lakes Navy Band and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.

As a studio artist, Olen has contributed to recordings of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Kid Rhino, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, VeggieTales, Robbie Fulks, and numerous television and radio commercials. His additional credits include Broadway musical orchestras for Wicked, Frozen, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, and Emmanuel.