Adelante! at Barron Arts Center

Adelante! is a 9 piece band that combines Latin rhythms from around the Caribbean with Jazz influences. The band features the dynamic Cuban sonero (lead singer) David Oquendo out front. Adelante’s material takes into account both tipico (traditional) & modern Latin music forms and infuses its arrangements with the creativity and improvisation of Jazz.

Adelante! has a 3 man horn section, which includes the leader Mike Kaplan on tenor saxophone, Rob Henke on trumpet and Ben Williams on trombone. In addition to Latin bands, this horn section has played together in diverse musical situations ranging from big bands to rhythm and blues. The powerful groove in the band is supplied by Willie Martinez on drums and percussion, Ricky Salas on bongo and percussion, Manuel Alejandro Carro on congas, bata drums and percussion, Nicki Denner on piano and Jennifer Vincent on bass. The band also sings coros (background vocals) to urge on David. ...

read more

Adelante! is a 9 piece band that combines Latin rhythms from around the Caribbean with Jazz influences. The band features the dynamic Cuban sonero (lead singer) David Oquendo out front. Adelante’s material takes into account both tipico (traditional) & modern Latin music forms and infuses its arrangements with the creativity and improvisation of Jazz.

Adelante! has a 3 man horn section, which includes the leader Mike Kaplan on tenor saxophone, Rob Henke on trumpet and Ben Williams on trombone. In addition to Latin bands, this horn section has played together in diverse musical situations ranging from big bands to rhythm and blues. The powerful groove in the band is supplied by Willie Martinez on drums and percussion, Ricky Salas on bongo and percussion, Manuel Alejandro Carro on congas, bata drums and percussion, Nicki Denner on piano and Jennifer Vincent on bass. The band also sings coros (background vocals) to urge on David.

Latin music aficionados will find familiar classic songs (such as “Mama Guela” and “Bilongo”) updated for the 21st century among the band’s repertoire. Jazz nuts will recognize material by Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and others given a fresh new recipe with hot Caribbean and African spices. Adelante!’s musical book also features original compositions (both instrumental and vocal) by the members of the band. The group's approach is a combination of the traditional & progressive and everything in between.

Experience the exciting, fresh and surprising musical potpourri that is Adelante!


Mike Kaplan – musical director/arranger/tenor saxophone Has recorded with Chico Mendoza’s Latin Jazz Dream Band, Coco Lagos y sus Orquesta, Juan Oliva y sus Progressiva, Orquesta Royal. His original arrangements were featured on Orquesta Royal’s “Magia Musical” and La Progressiva’s “Progressando Con Sabor”. His Nonet’s cd, “How’s That?” was played on over 150 jazz radio shows and stations worldwide.

David Oquendo – sonero(lead singer)/percussion/guitar Born in Havana, Cuba in 1958 and emigrated to the US in the late ‘80s. Has performed with Compay Segundo, Marc Anthony, Pacquito D’Rivera, Johnny Pacheco, Gato Barbieri, Gilberto Santa Rosa and many others. Has a Grammy Award for the album “Tropicana’s Nights” with Pacquito D’Rivera, a Grammy nomination for “Bebop Timba” with Rafael Cruz and 3 separate Grammy nominations for the band he leads, Raices Habaneras. His most recent cd is “”El Encuentro”, co-led with trombonist Roswell Rudd.

show less