Frank Bambara
hay una fiesta
Frank Bambara leads an old school New York salsa band tinged with the son-seasoned throaty voice of Julian Llanos. Original tracks by Mr. Bambara like the terrific "Mi Guaguancó," Ritmo Cubano," "Descarga," and the title track "Hay Una Fiesta." are mixed

B I O G R A P H Y
So who is the musician Frank Bambara?
Frank is a native New Yorker who is immersed in world culture.
He is rooted in Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, Brazilian and African music. Frank was born with the urge to play the drums and realized it as a baby before he could verbally communicate this energy. This was like a seed which began to grow into a professional career and still remains present.
Although he is intuitively self taught and equates life experiences with education he is also very formally trained. Frank has spent many years studying privately, including studies with internationally renowned teachers and authors of classic material. He attended Berklee College of Music, Five Towns College and received a full music scholarship at Long Island University where he was featured playing concerts with Michael Brecker, Nat Adderly and Tito Puente and was presented in Downbeat Magazine.
Frank performed and or recorded with Mike Stern, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, David Sanchez, Don Braden, John Hicks, Valery Ponomarev, Peter Washington, Dave Kikowsky, John Benitez , Jay Rodriguez, Etsel Gomez, Harvie S., Auturo O'farell, Ray Vega, Hector Martingon, Jimmy Bosh, John Stubblefield, Ralph Lalama, John Hammond. Miles Evans, Larry Willis, Vincent Herring, Craig Handy, Joe Loce, Joey Caldarazo. Clarence Sharp, Tom Turrentine, Rahn Burton, Roy Campbell, William Parker, Pete Yellen, Gill Cogans, Eddie Henderson, Ronnie Drayton, Dave Douglas. BANDS-Frank Bambara Y Sus Salseros (Afro-Cuban/Caribbean), Frank Bambara Band (Jazz/Funk/Latin), Push Bandleader (Funk/Blues/Jazz), Chris Washburn's S.Y.O.T.O.S., Mombo Macoco (Latin Jazz), Andy Colon La Esensia (Salsa), Manhattan Samba (Brazilian), Kaissa (African), Liquid Hips (Funk/Rock), Fostina Dixon (Wind Of Change Jazz), Miracle Minds (Reggae/Calypso) and among many others.
He has appeared on the television and radio shows, Entertainment Tonight (WABC Ch. 7) (Push), Best Talk In Town (WPIX Channel 11) (Push), MTV, Walt Disney (Start The Music), El Mundo (Channel 47), Ted Curson Presents Jazz Stars of The Future (WKCR FM), Vicki Solor (WFDU 89.1 FM.)
He has done performances for organizations such as Carnegie Hall Series, JVC Jazz Festival, Brooklyn Arts Cultural Association, Hospital Audiences, Trinity Church, Basta Music Festival, Heineken Jazz Festival (Holland), Puerto Rican Day Parade, Orchard Street Music Series, Henry Street Settlement, African Heritage and Hispanic Cultural Events, Afro Cuban Rumba at The Saint, Starbuck's Coffee, Havana Film Festival, Art in the Park Friends of Strous series, Putamaya Records, South Street Seaport Summer Concerts. Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and dance classes at New York University (NYU), Crunch Gym, Djoniba Dance Studio.
Frank has toured Europe and the U.S. several times as a band leader and as a freelance musician. He's also given workshops in Switzerland (Jazz School Lucerrn) and in Brazil (Conservatorio Da Bahia) and has also performed in Colombia, South America.
Frank teaches privately and has taught for Frenchwoods Festival Of The Performing Arts, L&M Music Studios and has been involved in programs for elementary public schools.
Frank has been on many recordings for movie soundtracks including work for the Discovery Channel. Frank was also a house studio drummer for Envy Productions which includes the following works; Bill Moyers Special, "What Can We Do About Violence?" (co composer-Vivanco/Bambara) PBS (Documentary); won an award for musical score. "Rothmans" TV Commercial (Curious Pictures) and various compilation CD's.
Frank currently has a CD out on Volution Records with his band entitled Frank Bambara Y Sus Salseros "Hay una Fiesta/There's a Party Going on", which is receiving international recognition and is available in stores now.
Presently Frank Bambara is active throughout the New York area.
Jazz: Afro-Cuban Jazz