A timbalero from San Francisco’s Mission District, Karl Perazzo is a longtime Santana percussionist who played on Supernatural. His credits also include Cal Tjader, Sheila E. and Tito Puente.

Artist biography & photo: Santana

Jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis was mentored by Dizzy Gillespie and went on to direct Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra. He also led the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band from 1992 to 2002.

Cuban-born drummer and composer Dafnis Prieto received a MacArthur Fellowship and won a Grammy for his big band album Back to the Sunset.

Salsa singer Herman Olivera is a longtime Eddie Palmieri collaborator. He appears on Palmieri’s Grammy-nominated album Mi Luz Mayor, alongside guests Carlos Santana and Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Italian guitarist and singer-songwriter Alex Britti came up playing blues before breaking through with his album It.pop. His single “Oggi sono io” reached No. 1 in Italy.

Oakland-born percussionist and singer Sheila E. rose to international prominence with The Glamorous Life, her 1984 debut album produced by Prince.

Nora Suzuki is the lead singer of Japan’s Orquesta de la Luz. She brought the group’s demo to New York, paving the way for its U.S. debut album, Salsa Caliente del Japón.

Puerto Rican pianist, arranger and producer Marlow Rosado won the Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Album with Retro, his tribute to classic salsa.

Percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente Jr. celebrates his father’s mambo and Latin jazz legacy. His album In My Father’s Shoes revisits classic Puente arrangements and inspired a BET Jazz television special.

Jazz vocalist Kenny Washington brings scat improvisation and a blues sensibility to the standards repertoire. His album What’s the Hurry? earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Salsa vocalist Willy Torres sang with Spanish Harlem Orchestra and co-created Willy’s NYC Salsa Project. He also taught salsa vocal technique in Hal Leonard’s Singing Salsa.

Drummer, bandleader and educator Tommy Igoe founded New York’s Birdland Big Band in 2006. He created Groove Essentials, a teaching series covering rhythms from around the world.

Bay Area guitarist and composer Ray Obiedo brings jazz, funk and Latin rhythms together on records such as Sweet Summer Days and Latin Jazz Project Vol. 2.

Costa Rican singer and songwriter Carlos Cascante fronts Carlos Cascante y Su Tumbao and sings with Spanish Harlem Orchestra, bringing his own compositions and vocal style to contemporary salsa.