Music has been deeply rooted in Armando’s life since age five. His influences range from Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Air Supply to José José and Nat King Cole, reflecting his ever-expanding quest for musical knowledge and history.

In 1994, Armando teamed up with his mentor, 11-time Grammy winner and Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo, to form the renowned, award-winning salsa band Avance. His work has included collaborations with Sheila E., Carlos Santana, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Tony Lindsay, WAR, Luis Miguel, and Prince Royce.

In 2012, Armando took part in the recording and production of Pacific Mambo Orchestra’s debut album, which won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. Armando officially joined PMO in 2014 as its lead singer. Throughout it all, being a father and husband has remained a constant, with the Grammy win fueling the inspiration and drive behind his first solo project. Ten years in the making, CÓRDOBA fuses rock, pop, and R&B with the tropical rhythms of vallenato, salsa, and reggae.

Christelle Durandy fuses Afro-Caribbean, jazz, and other polyrhythmic sounds in a provocative exploration of the African diaspora’s diffuse and powerful musical energy. Raised in France by a mother from Réunion Island and a father from Guadeloupe, Christelle embodies this multicultural richness.

Christelle currently fronts her Afro-Caribbean ensemble Sanktet (a play on the French phrase “cinq têtes,” or “five heads”) as well as the Grammy-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra. She contributes her talents as a writer, arranger, and performer to the all-female World-Latin music collective Cocomama.

Her vocals feature on diverse projects with such luminaries as John Santos, Paula West, George Mesterhazy, Jon Faddis, Pedrito Martinez, Baptiste Trotignon, Toshi Reagon, Allison Miller, Luis Enrique, Paul Carlon Octet, LaFrae Sci, Camille Thurman, Edward Perez, Ran Blake, John Benitez, Max Pollak’s RumbaTap, Ricky Ford and Ze Big Band, La India, Camille A. Brown, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Meklit Hadero, Carlos “El Bola” Betancourt, and Millicent Johnnie.

Ranging joyfully amongst forms as varied as Cuban son to Haitian kompa to traditional jazz, Christelle’s border-transcendent music is rooted in the diversity of her ethnic background. She began performing at the age of five, joining the family band as it toured France: her father sang and played percussion, specializing in Gwo Ka, the traditional music of Guadeloupe, while her mother introduced her to jazz, along with the music and activism of the broader African diaspora. Under her parents’ guidance, Christelle began developing the sophisticated musical skills that she later honed during her apprenticeship in Europe, Cuba, and the U.S. 
Christelle draws upon this extensive education to connect with various audiences, traditions, and social issues. Her work explores and deepens a global conversation, moving fluently from the intricate clauses of contemporary jazz to the most uncomplicated, sincerest phrases of folk. This musical rigor, combined with her powerhouse vocals and fiercely passionate live performances, has garnered Christelle consistent critical praise while mesmerizing audiences worldwide.

Born in Peru, Braulio Barrera started playing Peruvian folkloric music at age five on cajón, claves, cowbell, congas, and bongos. After honing his craft in Peru, he moved to Los Angeles to play with Chino Espinoza and Tabaco y Ron, among others in the salsa scene. He has appeared on numerous recordings as both a percussionist and a lead vocalist.

Braulio performs with Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Montuno Swing. You can hear his percussion and lead vocals on Montuno Swing’s track “Renta de Tula,” written and produced by Christian Tumalán.

Christian is a co-executive of Pacific Mambo LLC and Pacific Mambo Records. He is also the founder and president of TumalanMusic and its publishing arm, TumalanMusic.

Christian was awarded one of the top keyboardists in the prestigious 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards / The Best Jazz of 2017 USA.

Born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, Christian studied classical piano at the Escuela Superior de Música in Mexico City for ten years. Later, he turned his interests toward jazz, a musical language in which he found deep passion and freedom. He further developed his skills in live piano performance, jazz, and big band arranging, achieving four professional majors in music.

Currently, Tumalán performs actively in the United States, where he has worked and shared musical moments with numerous professional musicians, including Alex Acuña, Calixto Oviedo, Wayne Wallace, John Santos, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pete Escobedo, Sheila E, Tito Puente Jr., Isidro Infante, Tommy Igoe, Los Adolescentes Orchestra, Eddie Santiago, La India, Tony Vega, Johnny Rivera, Johnny Polanco, Rubén Blades, Tony Perez, Eddie Marshall, Chucho Valdés Jr., Bill Watrous, Danny Lozada & La charanga Habanera, Louie Romero, Orestes Vilato, Benny Velarde, Ray de la Paz, Chino Espinoza, Poncho Sanchez Band, among many other local and international artists.

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Grammy-winning singer and percussionist Omar Ledezma Jr. has played professionally since age 17. 

In 1995, Ledezma graduated from one of the most prestigious law schools in Caracas, but in 1998 Omar packed one bag and one drum to begin his move to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. After graduating in 2005, he moved to the Bay Area, where he teaches at the Community Music Center. 

Omar has played, recorded, and toured with local and international artists and founded a group dedicated to the wooden box percussion instrument, the Ka-Hon Ensemble, one of the biggest stars of the Adventures In Music program of the San Francisco Symphony. In 2014, he won a Grammy with the world-renowned Pacific Mambo Orchestra. 

Omar is also a music accompanist for the San Francisco Ballet Dance In Schools and Communities (DISC) education program and a teaching artist with the Youth in Arts organization from San Rafael, California. Omar is an exclusive artist with Pearl Percussion, Pinchclip, ELH Cowbells, Remo heads, Kandu Cajons, Vater, and Soultone Cymbals.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Carlos “Carlitos” Medrano began his musical studies by teaching himself to play bongos and congas, using traditional Cuban music and rumba as his guide. After studying, gaining experience, and participating in folkloric projects and timba, also known as Cuban salsa, he broadened his musical knowledge at the Escuela de Superación Profesional de Arte “Félix Varela y Morales.” There, he began building a foundation in Latin jazz fusion through musical projects in Cuba.

He recalls with great satisfaction and happiness studying with internationally known Cuban percussionists José Antonio Oviedo, Ignacio Jarabe Martínez, Eliel Lazo Linares, Yaroldy Abreu, and José Luis Quintana, also known as Changuito.

Before arriving in the United States in March 2008, he worked with the well-known Cuban pianist Alexis Bosch. Since then, he has worked with bands in Sonoma County, including Batacha and the Carlos Herrera Band, and throughout the Bay Area, including Pellejo Seco, Delbert Bump & Sazil Band, Yancie Taylor, Jesús Díaz & Latin Ensemble, Boleros y Más, Ruben Gonzalo, T-Mambo, Mision Barrio Project, and Fito Reinoso.

His performances include the San Jose Jazz Festival; the 2009 CubaCaribe Festival in San Francisco, celebrating Cuban folklore; the 2010 San Francisco Carnaval; and the 2011 Benicia Jazz Festival and Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival.

Julio de la Cruz was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. In 1980, at the age of 12, he first began his studies as a musician, specializing in percussion instruments while simultaneously studying music theory and composition.

From 1987 to 1992, Julio participated in several projects and festivals in Havana and other provinces in Cuba. In 1992, he left Cuba to perform on tour with the Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano as part of the release “Calle Latina.”

From 1993 to 2009, Julio lived and worked in Mexico, accompanying Celio Sanchez, a well-known Sonora Matancera singer, as well as salsa queen Celia Cruz. He later moved to Los Cabos, also in Mexico, where he joined the house band at rocker Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo club and accompanied American guest performers, including Toby Keith and Sammy Hagar.

During this time in Mexico, Julio continued to perfect his skills as a percussionist but also taught himself to play the piano and bass, making him a multi-instrumentalist performer. In 2009, Julio moved to the United States, joining many bands in the San Francisco Bay area in California. 

Jesse Levit is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist who works in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York. Rooted in jazz, his playing draws on funk, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. He also performs on keyboards and electronic wind instrument.

Jesse earned a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and toured Japan with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with Angélique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, and Tommy Igoe, and co-leads the Levit-Behrman Collective.

Doug Rowan is an American saxophonist who has toured, recorded, and performed with many well-known artists, including Boz Scaggs, Average White Band, and the Pacific Mambo Orchestra. He plays flute, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone and is a primary member of all five Wide Hive Players albums.

Based in West Oakland, California, Tony has been fortunate enough to perform on stage with such artists as Geri Allen, Antoine Roney, Oliver Lake, Andy Bey, Nnenna Freelon, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and reggae legend Don Carlos. 

He has performed throughout North America, Europe, Central America, and Africa with various projects.  A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. Music - theory concentration) and The University of the Arts (M.M. Jazz Performance - saxophone), he now performs with a variety of Bay Area bands.

Ben has performed with Darlene Love, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Tommy Igoe, Sheila E., Tom Politzer, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Eric Marienthal, and many others.

Ben has been an active musician in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2003. His recording credits include the 1997 album Traditions by Los Hooligans, soundtrack work for Great America’s theme parks, and the Grammy Award-winning album Pacific Mambo Orchestra. He also performed with the Disneyland All-American College Band.

He earned his music degree at San José State University, where he studied with Dr. Aaron Lington. Since earning his degree and teaching credential, he has enjoyed a double life as an elementary school music teacher and active musician.

Aaron Joseph Lington, 2015 Silicon Valley Artist Laureate, received his BM in music education from the University of Houston, Moores School of Music, and his MM in jazz studies and DMA in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas, where he studied with James Riggs. His performing and compositional credits include collaborations with the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, Maynard Ferguson, the BBC Radio Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, Bo Diddley, Jamie Davis, and many others.  

In addition to his position as an associate professor at San José State University, where he serves as coordinator of jazz studies, Dr. Lington is also a faculty member at the Texas Music Festival Jazz Institute, hosted by the University of Houston. Aaron Lington is a saxophone performing artist for Rico Reeds. 

He has won awards for playing and writing from Downbeat Magazine and ASCAP and was the 2003 recipient of the Sammy Nestico Award. He was recognized in the 55th and 57th Annual Downbeat Magazine Critic’s Poll as a “Rising Star” in the Baritone Saxophone category. 

Lead trombonist Derek James began playing with Pacific Mambo Orchestra upon its inception.

He performs with Mazacote, Avance, the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, numerous local and touring bands of every genre, and in Broadway productions, giving him the well-deserved reputation of being a consummate all-rounder and highly regarded studio session player.

Derek was classically trained at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and played in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra before moving to San Francisco in 1993. His first gig in his new town was with a salsa band, and he hasn’t stopped since.

Cressman is a unique talent who is equally in demand as a trombonist and a sound engineer. Jeff is a native of San Francisco who began playing trombone in the same Berkeley Public School Jazz Project that encouraged such contemporaries as Peter Apfelbaum, Benny Green, and Joshua Redman.

 In 2000, Jeff began working with Carlos Santana, playing on the sold-out "Supernatural" tour with him in the U.S. and Europe, as well as world tours from 2002 to 2016. 

During his professional career, Jeff has performed a wide variety of musical styles, with such artists as Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Carlos Santana, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Don Cherry, Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Jon Jang, the Pan-Asian Arkestra, Jai Uttal, and the Pagan Love Orchestra. 

James (Jamie) Dubberly, hailing originally from Brunswick, GA, has established a reputation as one of northern California's top trombonists, educators, and arrangers.

He currently serves on the faculties of the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music and California State University- Stanislaus as a lecturer.

As a trombonist, he has recorded and performed with a wide range of artists, including Sheila E., the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Luis Enrique, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Emerson String Quartet, Bobby Caldwell, Chris Potter, The Temptations, La India, Johnny Mathis, Jon Faddis, Andy Montañez, Michael Stuart, Greg Tardy, Fred Wesley, Lyrics Born, Wayne Wallace, Herman Olivera, Steve Davis, Frankie Vazquez, and Idina Menzel, among many others.

He has also worked with several touring orchestras for Broadway productions (U.S. and international). He has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Tempo Latino (France), San Jose Jazz Festival, SummerStage Festival (Central Park, NYC), Stern Grove Festival (S.F.), Brubeck Festival, and in premier venues such as Yoshi's, SFJAZZ Center, and the Blue Note (Napa). He has been a member of PMO since its inception. He can be seen frequently with Northern California groups such as the Josh Jones Latin Jazz Band, Candela, Cabanijazz Project, Kimbombo, Mazacote, Joe Mazzaferro Big Band, and the Greg Johnson Big Band, among others.

Mara Fox is a highly respected trombonist and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years of experience, she has enthralled audiences worldwide with her versatility across Jazz, R&B, Latin, and classical genres.

Her career includes recording and touring internationally with the renowned Conjunto Cespedes and The Klezmorim. Locally, Mara collaborates with celebrated ensembles, including the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra (2014), The Purple Ones, The Montclair Women’s Big Band, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

She is also dedicated to sharing her passion for music through education, inspiring the next generation of young musicians.

Steffen is a co-executive of Pacific Mambo LLC and Pacific Mambo Records, and the founder and president of Stefrecords and its publishing arm, TrumPOP Publishing.

Steffen is a published writer and has performed with the biggest names in Latin music, R&B, and Jazz, like Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy, The Temptations, 4 Tops, Sheila E., Jon Faddis, Antonio Sanchez, Taylor Eigsti, Luis Enrique, Bob Mintzer, Dafnis Prieto, Tito Nieves, La India, Michael Feinstein, Birdland All Stars, Maceo Parker Big Band, and others.

Steffen’s contemporary jazz album Leap of Faith, released in May 2016, contains eight original compositions and two covers. It features world-class artists like Tommy Igoe, Drew Zingg, Bob Mintzer, Tom Politzer, Wouter Kellerman, and Marc Russo.

Steffen’s versatile writing has resulted in numerous placements: his jazz ballad “Vivienne and Simone’s Lullaby” in the CBS series “The Good Wife” in October 2015; “Trumpop” in the Miramax film “Birthday Girl,” starring Nicole Kidman and Ben Chaplin; and “One for Louie” in the USA Network series “Burn Notice.”

Steffen’s trumpet book “Stef’s Trumpet Method” was released in spring 2019 and is available on Amazon.com.

Mr. Fasman grew up in Redwood City, California. He studied the trumpet with Charlie Bubb and Herb Patnoe before attending De Anza College in Cupertino and California State University, Los Angeles.

During his twelve-year tenure in the Los Angeles area, he toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Far East, and the Caribbean as lead trumpeter with The Al Hirt Big Band, Circus Vargas, The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Bill Watrous’ Jazz Refuge West, and singer/composer Paul Anka.

After returning to the Bay Area in 1991, Mr. Fasman has continued his performing career as a studio musician, recording on motion picture soundtracks, such as “Soapdish,” “Spy Kids”; the TV show “Fame” and VH1 Honors with Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and Sheryl Crow.

He also performed and recorded with The Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra, Huey Lewis and the News, The E Family Band featuring Sheila E, The Narada Michael Walden Band, Dick Bright’s SRO, and Wayne Wallace’s Rhythm and Rhyme.

He is currently performing with PMO, Tommy Igoe’s Groove Conspiracy, and backing other local and international artists.

San Francisco native Bill Ortega Jr. is the bandleader and lead trumpeter of Orquesta Borinquen. The grandson of West Coast cuatro pioneer Carmelito Velez, he started playing trumpet at age eight and studied with Mike Vax.

Bill got his start in salsa with Orquesta Radiante and later recorded with Pe Pe y Su Orquesta Peru. He also plays timbales and helped arrange music for Borinquen’s debut album, El Trombonista. He has shared the stage with artists including Roberto Roena, Grupo Niche, and Víctor Manuelle.

Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Niel has traveled worldwide to perform with a diverse mix of leading jazz, pop, rock, and hip-hop groups. He currently leads the Local Edition Jazz Orchestra’s weekly residency in San Francisco, CA.

He is equally comfortable in an intimate jazz club, in a Broadway pit orchestra, or in front of an arena-sized crowd.

Niel has played with internationally renowned musicians Seal, Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Deltron 3030, Chali2na (Jurassic 5), DJ Q-Bert, Clint Black, Michael Feinstein, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, Tom Scott, Sheila E., Louie Bellson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pete Escovedo, Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Realistic Orchestra, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, and the Jazz Mafia Hip Hop Symphony.

With over 40 years of experience, Jimmy Goings records, produces, and mixes top-quality music across genres. With a focus on detail and development, GFI takes projects from the demo phase to their highest potential, helping artists find their ideal sound.

Jimmy is a musician, singer, songwriter, and producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His career spans over 50 years, from touring the Midwest during the heyday of live ballroom bands to joining the vibrant Bay Area music scene in the early ’70s. He played with Power House, Dorothy Morrison, the Family Drive, Loverde, and Sylvester before recording six albums and touring the world with Santa Esmeralda in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

Jimmy continued recording, singing, performing, and producing albums for Philips, Polydor, Arista, and Warner Brothers Records. He is a two-time inductee into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Association Hall of Fame.

Goings owns and operates GFI Entertainment LLC, where he makes music with talented artists and his band, Generation Esmeralda, develops new talent, and produces events for cities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. He has worked with Grammy Award-winning Latin big band Pacific Mambo Orchestra as its production manager and front-of-house engineer since 2014.

Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Karl Perazzo is a percussionist known for his work with Santana. His performance and recording credits span pop, jazz, rock and Latin music, including work with Cal Tjader, Sheila E. and Tito Puente.

Artist biography & photo: Santana