JESUS DIAZ
Cuban born percussionist and vocalist Jesus Diaz arrived in the United States from la Habana in 1980. He quickly identified the Bay Area music scene as the grounds to establish his new home. His local and worldwide performances in collaboration with world renowned and acclaimed artists, are recognized for their contributions to the richness of an ever expanding musical genre worldwide.
Jesus Diaz has performed, toured and recorded with such artists as, Carlos Santana, Andy Narrell, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobbie Womack, Steve Coleman, Caribbean Jazz Project, Planet Drum, Talking Drums, Pete Escovedo / Sheila E, José Luis Quintana "Changuito", Giovanni Hidalgo, Rebecca Mauleón & Round Trip, Omar Sosa, Columna "B", John Calloway, and Conjunto Céspedes among many.
As an educator, he has participated on several prominent clinics and workshops, including the Stanford Jazz Workshop and Jazz Camp West,. In collaboration with the group Talking Drums, which includes fellow percussionists Michael Spiro and David Garibaldi, he has contributed to various Warner Brothers instructional books and videos.
A multi-instrumentalist, arranger and vocalist, Díaz has established himself as one of the most in-demand performers and studio musicians world-wide. Jesus diaz is endorsed by Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth, Audix, and Evans Drum Heads.
JESUS DIAZ Y SU QBA
Cuban born percussionist Jesús Diaz has quietly and assuredly taken the Bay Area music by storm, and established a place in the world of Latin and Cuban style dance music. The rich musical diversity of the Bay Area, combined with the roots of Afro-Cuban music, has provided the opportunity to learn, experiment and arrive at the evolution of what QBA is today.
Showcased in their CD releases, CARAMELO and JARDINERO, Jesús has assembled an incomparable orchestra of accomplished artists whose talents combine Funk, Jazz, Rumba, Son, and varied Afro-Cuban elements within the syncopation of modern expressions in Cuban dance music. This musical tradition is rooted in the firm belief in the importance of creating new and unique "signature" styles and sounds. The drive of the music is a direct function of remaining actively engaged with the dancers.
Most recently, Jesús Díaz Y Su QBA have shared the stage along with renowned Cuban artists such as Issaac Delgado and Manolin "El Medico de La Salsa", demonstrating that original "Timba" is indeed alive and well here in the United States. QBA fuses modern and traditional elements of Afro-Cuban influences within dance music to create their unique sound.
Partial Discography:
CARAMELO Jesus Diaz y Su QBA - Bombo Music
EL JARDINERO Jesus Diaz y Su QBA - Bombo Music
DIASPORA John Calloway - Bombo Music
TWISTED NOON Columna "B" - Bombo Music
OAKTOWN IRAWO Greg Landau, Omar Sosa, Jesus Diaz - Tonga Records
ROUND TRIP Rebeca Mauleón - Rumbeca Music
FLORES, VIVITO Y COLEANDO, UNA SOLA CASA
Conjunto Céspedes - Green Linnet Records
THREE IN ONE Wayne Wallace - Spirit Nectar
FIRE IN THE ENGINE ROOM Andy Narrel - Heads up
SUPRA LINGUA Mickey Hart & Ryko Planet Drum
SPIRIT OF THE ROOT Omar Sosa - Price Club
FREE ROOTS Omar Sosa - Price Club
CUBA WITHOUT BORDERS Artist Compilation - Six Degrees Records
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