From The Leaders desk
Jose E Reyes Jr. Musical Director/Timbalero
BIO
Jose E. Reyes Jr was born To Maria T. Reyes and Jose E. Reyes Sr. on August 21st,1971. At the early age of 5, he was showing off his skills on stage with his dad who happen to be a union musician in the island of Puerto Rico. Soon after, he was accepted into the Escuela Libre de Musica in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He's studied music theory and drums with Professor of Percussion Jose"Pepito"Torres member of the Puerto Rican Symphony Orquestra. After a few years his family relocated to the United States and continued his studies at Carl Schurz in the band program learning piano and trumpet. As a hobby, he picked up the craft of Disc Jockey and performed at major clubs throughout the city. In 1987 he joined Nabori, a local band Directed by Jose Fontanez. 1991 sparked a new wave of Salsa in the city of Chicago, he later joined the 911 Orquestra led by Chicagos very own Teacher and Composer Angel Melendez. Jose flourished and continued playing with local groups and church ministries to include Ebenezer Orquestra led by Director Jose Diaz. In1993, he was asked to be a part of a touring band for RMM Sony records. This was the big break he patiently waited for. Jose made many appearances to include, La Plaza De Toros Mexico City, Madison Square Garden, stadiums and concert halls throughout North and South America. In 1998 he produced an album for Jose"Papo Rivera. Later the same year Produced an album for Jorge"Piro"Romero. In all Jose has amassed many digital recordings and productions. Recently Jose opened his own recording studio, "Urban Scope Records," and has released three singles, a jazz album and a solo album for Artist Emily. Currently, Jose leads his own band "Trabuco." and working on the bands new to release single "Mi chacha."
About Us
Lionel Vargas Percussionist/Bongo
Lionel was born in 1961 in the town of East Chicago Indiana. At the age of 13, Lionel and his family relocated to the island of Puerto Rico. At the time, a surge in Salsa music was taking over the barrios, La Parada 22 in Santurce became a local hotspot. He was quickly drawn to these fascinating sounds. Lionel began participating with bands at the young age of 17 during this wave of Salsa music. After some time, he was back in the states. Just as he had prior to relocating, Lionel immersed himself and started playing in the local scene. Some of this participation in bands included, Caribe, Tipica 78, Ismael Rosa, Angel Melendez, Xtacy and others. He also took the stage with local and international artists. Lionel's passion and love for Salsa music continues today participating with Grupo Boriken and has become a member of Trabuco Salsa Band in Chicago.
Carlos Tata Marquez Pianist
Carlos Tata Marquez was born January 1973 to parents Elba Velez and Carlos H. Marquez a well known Jockey from the 1960's and 70's. His grandfather Enrique Velez Rosa was a Master of Ceremonies pilar of Folkloric Jibaro music and a famous radio host in Puerto Rico. Carlos influences came from his uncles Wellon (Pianist) & Puchy (Bassist) who would encourage him to pursue music. At the age of 5 on or about 1978 he began playing bongos and congas drawing from the uncles he grew up watching. His family relocated to New York and in 8th grade he picked up the clarinet and trumpet, however his desire to play Salsa was clear to him. In his adult life now 1987, Carlos began playing with Yucayeque a local Bomba Plena Cultural group. He dabbled with other groups landing a pianist job with Carlitos Rey, a local singer in Chicago. He later played with 809 Orquetsra and more recently has worked with Angel Melendez Hector Lavoe Tribute Band and the 911 Orquestra also Conjunto Boriken. Carlos has accompanied many artist both local and international. Today Carlos has become a member of the Trabuco Salsa Band and is in the process of recording the bands first digital album.
William Billy Rivera Vocalist
William "Billy" Rivera was born and raised in Gurabo Puerto Rico. It was in this environment that he was able to develop his artistic abilities; the effect was immeasurable. Billy will tell youth it was " en los campos" that he was first inspired to draw and paint. As these talents matured, he began to utilize them as his primary source of self-expression. With an ardent desire to further cultivate his gifts, Billy left Puerto Rico to attend the art schools of Chicago in 1989. Chicago presented great opportunities for learning, and it was there that Billy began to nurture his passion for music. This passion grew as he apprenticed with some of the local popular Salsa groups in the city. Billy began as a percussionist and later became a back up vocalist. His wide vocal range and smooth voice created high demand to back up Artist from the Salsa genre. Artist such as Alberto"El Canario," Ismael Miranda, Tony Vega, Lalo Rodriguez and countless others. Currently Billy has joined the Trabuco Salsa Band and will be releasing a single that is in the works for early spring 2024.
About Us
Luis Palermo Vocalist
Su primera grabación (“Brasa Ascendiendo”) como profesional fue en 1994 en la ciudad de New York; Antes, ya había compartido escenarios con muchos artistas. Luego de varios años en la ciudad de New York, pasa a las filas de los elites en el género de la salsa con La Orquesta Majestad del barrio latino, donde grabo su segunda producción musical, Romance en el barrio. Continúo buscando suerte y entro a las filas de la Dicupe 2 donde es reclutado para su más reciente producción luego sigue grabando varios demos con orquestas locales de New York.
Luego de los eventos del 911 regresa a Puerto Rico. Ya en Puerto Rico, le esperaba la Happy Hills de San German y graba su más reciente trabajo, Happy Hills y su 75 aniversario. Mi vida, 1 y 2 están todas sus más recientes grabaciones y éxitos algunas en YouTube. Se le ofrece la oportunidad de participar en un proyecto llamado, Trio Armonía con clase y más reciente Conjunto Boriken, Proyecto 7, de Chicago y actualmente Cantante de La Orquesta Trabuco también en Chicago. Que Puno Récords su empresa tiene 5 artistas bajo su sello y mas de 50 como productor.
About Trabuco CONTINUED
ROBERTO SERRANO BASSIST
I have been playing bass since 1974 to 1980 in Puerto Rico and 1980 to 1981 in New York from 1981 to date here in Chicago. 50 years of experience. I am passionate on my work as a musician. I have backed up a number of artist. Pupy Santiago, Luisito Carrion, Anthony Cruz, Lalo Rodriguez, Nino Segarra, Alex Leon, Junior Gonzales, Larry Harlow with Yomo Toro, Wichi Camacho,Paquito Acosta, Kaivan Vega, Adalberto Santiago, Hector Tricoche, Manolo Lezcano, Kevin Ceballo, Giro, Brenda K. Star, David Pabon, Eddie Santiago, Willie Gonzalez, Roberto Lugo, Frankie Ruiz Jr., Tommy Olivencia, Cano Estremera, Roberto Lugo, Rolando LaSerie, Willie Crespo, Andy Montañez, Mannix Martinez and German Olivera. I have been a member of Roberto Perez, sextet, Vibración 75 in Puerto Rico. Orq. Brooklyn in New York. Siembra band, la cosecha band Diego Del Real band, Willie Rodriguez (Sabor) band, Carlitos Rey band, Mannix Martinez band, Angel Melendez 911 band and now Orq. Trabuco. Think I will keep doing this until I can. I love this music.
TITO ESPONDA VOCALIST
Juan “Tito” Esponda born July 28 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. Grew up around Latin music all his life. His step father was a member of the popular salsa band Raphy Leavitt y La Selecta in the 1980’s, that’s where Tito fell in love with music. In High School he became a vocalist for an all student salsa band Son Del Barrio, from Roberto Clemente Community Academy. After graduating, he started working with different Salsa Orquestras to develop his skills. In the late 90’s he found his niche, when he became a member for one of Angel Melendez’s bands named Generación X. From there he became a backup singer for Silvio Sosa (former vocalist for La Cocoband and La Banda loca). In 1997 he became one of the lead vocalist for Benji y su MerenBanda. Winning several awards such as the battle of the bands 4 consecutive years and the ritmo awards in 2000 for best male vocalist in the Merengue category and for best Merengue band. Tito has always dreamt of recording an album so in 2006 he went on to join “Grupo Fuego” a Merengue group from Cleveland Ohio. With the group he was able to record 2 songs on their second production titled The Element. He recorded the songs “Pa’ Que Lo Bailes Tu” and “La Cotorra”. After his exit from the group he decided to move to Orlando, Florida where he came back to his first love, Salsa as a vocalist for Orquesta Salsumba. Tito has recently returned to the city that saw him grow, Chicago. As the newest member of Trabuco, Tito hopes to bring his experience, his vocal skills, his energy, his passion and above all his love for Latin music.
NATHAN RODRIGUEZ PERCUSSIONIST
Percussionist, bassist, and bandleader Nathan Rodriguez has been performing professionally since the age of 16. Passionate about teaching, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and currently teaches music for the Chicago Board of Education. He leads the classic Puerto Rican conjunto style salsa band Conjunto Borikén. Additionally, he performs as a freelance musician with many local salsa bands at venues throughout the Chicago area and has done several TV appearances. Over his career, he has performed with well known salsa artists including Charlie Aponte, Cano Estremera, Herman Olivera, Tony Vega, Ismael Miranda, Johnny Rivera, Frankie Vazquez, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Lalo Rodriguez, and Frankie Negron amongst many others.
Nathan Rodriguez was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents. His father hails from Ponce, PR and his mother was born in Santurce. He began performing on the bongos at his local church at the age of 11 and added the conga at 13. He was soon invited to sit in at salsa and Latin jazz jam sessions around the city. At the age of 16, he began performing professionally with well established local bands and out of town artists.
Nathan established his own production studio, NateRod Studio, in 2018, and has become a go-to for full production and mixing and mastering services in the salsa community. Nathan has worked on albums by legendary singers such as Johnny Rivera, Tony Vega, and Wito Colon. Nathan released an album, "Pa'í Que Tu Lo Sepas", with his very own Conjunto Borik√©n in 2019 that received great reviews and has been played all over the world. He followed that up in 2020 with a phenomenal Conjunto Borik √©n single "Homenaje A Los Conjuntos Del Ayer" with invited singers Johnny Rivera, Carlos Garcia, Kayvan Vega, Julio Lopez, Jorge Yadiel Santos, and Carlos Nevarez. Recently Nathan joined the Traduce Salsa Band Co-Poducing mixing and mastering our latest single "Tu Victima" in the voice of Julio Lopez from Puerto Rico.
ANDRES GUZMAN TROMBONIST
BIDI BRASS TRUMPETER
EDGAR CAMPOS TRUMPETER
A native of Costa Rica, Edgar Campos performs with the Chicago Sinfonietta and for the Joffrey Ballet, and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Mr. Campos has performed with a variety of orchestras in the area, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Elgin Symphony, and American Ballet Theatre. Outside of the United States, he has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the Sinfonica Nacional de Uruguay (SODRE), and the World Youth Symphony; as a soloist, he has performed with the Plotz Symphony (Poland).
Mr. Campos received his Master of Music Degree from Roosevelt University, and his bachelor's degree from Conservatoire de Musique de Quebec. His trumpet teachers include Adolph Herseth of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Marc Ridenour (CSO), Channing Philbrick (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Jean Louis Chatel (Montreal Symphony), and Robert Platt (Berlin Philharmonic).
Mr. Campos has received various awards, including second prize at the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation's annual competition, third prize at the National Canadian Music Competition, and finalist in the International Brass Quintet Competition in Narbon, France.
As an educator, Mr. Campos works for the Sinfonietta's Audience Matters and SEED programs, the Chicago High School for the Arts, the Music Institute of Chicago ("Brass for Beginners"), and the University of Chicago.
In 2011-13, Mr. Campos taught masterclasses at the Warsaw Conservatory "Joseph Elsner" (Warsaw, Poland), the Music School in Plotz (Plotz, Poland), and the Universidad de Montevideo (Montevideo, Uruguay). Recently Mr. Campos became a member of the Trabuco Salsa Band playing concerts throughout the state of Illinois.