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Who's Who in BaKán
 Jose
Guamán
(Leader- Percussion)
Jose Guaman is the Director, Manager, and plays Bongos for Orquesta
BaKan. Jose was born in Guayaquil Ecuador and moved to San Francisco
at the age of 5. Jose started his musical career at the young age of
15 playing Congas for the Jose Alfredo Mojica Orquesta which was one
of the top Salsa Bands in San Francisco.
The Mojica Orquesta were always booked to back up the big bands when
they came to town. Jose was able to meet, talk, and learn from such
great artist like Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, El Gran
Combo, and Eddie Palmieri to name a few. The Mojica Orquesta signed
a long-term contract to play in Washington DC but Jose’s father felt
he was too young to leave home so Jose stayed behind and played with
the local groups. Having been spoiled playing with a large Orquesta,
Jose decided to leave the music world for over 25 years to pursue
his career in the business world.
In 2000 Jose was celebrating his sister’s birthday at a
restaurant/club, when a musician recognized Jose from his past salsa
days and approached him. Jose was invited to come up and play with
the group and from there he caught the Salsa fever once again. Not
long after Jose decided he wanted to start his own Salsa Orquesta.
It was a very difficult beginning because no one knew of Jose since he was out of the music scene for such a long time. Jose began
to go to the clubs to speak with the club owners, promoters, salsa
dancers, DJ’s, singers and musicians introducing himself and to get a feel
of what everyone was looking for in the Salsa world.
From that point Jose reached out to the best musicians in the Bay
Area and formed Orquesta BaKan in 2002. By the next few years
Orquesta BaKan was playing at all the top local clubs. In June of
2005 BaKan was the first local Salsa Orquesta in the history of the
San Francisco Symphony’s Black & White Ball to play on the main
stage of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium opening for Patti LaBelle
& Train. In 2006 BaKan went on tour backing up the great legend Ray
De La Paz from Puerto Rico.
Jose is now working with his Orquesta on their much-anticipated
first CD release entitled “Regresando A La Salsa”. In such a short
time period Jose’s Orquesta BaKan is now one of the elite and most
popular sought after Salsa Bands in the Bay Area and beyond. Jose
will be the first to tell you, “You may leave salsa, but salsa will
never leave you”, and he’s forever grateful to all of his family,
friends, and faithful followers for being a part of the BaKan
experience.
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 Agustin
"Indio" Martinez
(Vocals)
Agustin “Indio” Martinez is currently one of the
lead signers for Orquesta BaKan. Born in Catano Puerto Rico, Indio’s
love and forte was signing boleros with various famous groups. While
in the military Indio moved to the US in 1977. One day in 1994 Indio
was signing along to some salsa music from his car radio while
pumping gas. A person heard Indio signing and fell in love with his
voice.
He was asked to go to a salsa band rehearsal and his salsa signing
career took off. Since then Indio has become one of the top salsa
voices in San Francisco. Indio has played with various salsa bands
such as, Orquesta Cadencia, Cimarron, Bronz, and Sensual. Indio has
also sat in with various artist like, Willie Gonzales, Tito Rojas,
and great friend Paquito Acosta. Indio sends his love to his family
Camuy PR y Que Viva La Salsa!!! |
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 Victor
"Cafe" August
(Vocals)
Victor “Café” August is currently
one of the Lead Singers for Orquesta BaKan. Born in Oakland
California, Cafe was raised in the Puerto Rican
neighborhood
where he learned to appreciate the culture and music. Café started
playing percussion at the age of 12 specializing in the “Timbales”.
In his teen years he started playing with famous Puerto Rican
musicians such as Carmelito Velez, Junior Sanitiago, and Ramito.
Café has sat in with artist like, El Gran Combo, Luis Enrique,
Ceclia Cruz, Tito Puente, Lefty Perez, Miles Pena, Tommie Ovilencia.
This Year in 2005 Café made a Trip to Puerto Rico where he sat in
with Roberto Roena, Luisito Carrion, Mel Martinez, and the Great
Gilberto SantaRosa. Café has been playing with some of the best
local Bay Area bands since 1979 as well as formed a number of famous
bands that still exist today.
Café and his wife Linda loved their culture so much that in 2003
they created the Festival De La Isla as a way of addressing the
needs of a Puerto Rican community for cultural identity and unity.
Café and Linda bring in the hottest local Salsa Bands from the Bay
Area as well as famous Artists from other areas. The Puerto Rican
food is fabulous so don’t miss this event each year. For more
information on this event go to
www.festivaldelaisla.com. |
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 Doug Beavers
(Trombone)
Doug Beavers is the current lead Trombone player for Orquesta BaKan.
Recently garnering a Grammy Award for his work on Eddie Palmieri's
star-studded release Listen Here (2006), Doug Beavers Rovira has
become known for his meticulous attention to detail, natural-born
leadership, and his unbridled enthusiasm for music.
These endearing
qualities have earned him the opportunity to perform throughout the
world with prominent figures in jazz and latin music, including
Eddie Palmieri, Rosemary Clooney, Giovanni Hildago, and Mingus Big
Band, both as trombonist and arranger and composer.
Doug has just
finished a jazz orchestra release entitled Jazz, Baby!, which
features a 20 piece jazz orchestra performing traditional kids'
tunes in a 1950's - 60's big bands style.� Featuring Matt Catingub,
Linda Harmon & Giovanni Hidalgo and recorded at Lucasfilm's
Skywalker Sound, the CD will be released nationally October 23, 2007
on the Origin record label. Doug is also the producer for the
upcoming Orquesta BaKan CD "Regresando A La Salsa”. |
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 Carlos
Ramirez
(Bass)
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posuere vel, mi. Nunc in massa. Nunc mi sapien, hendrerit a,
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vehicula dignissim, quam ipsum commodo dolor, nec dictum sem mauris
et nibh. Integer rutrum, diam sed fringilla suscipit, elit purus
fermentum nisi, at suscipit turpis dui ac velit. Nulla eu tortor.
Cras ut tortor. Mauris a odio nec arcu pulvinar placerat. Phasellus
auctor dapibus erat. Suspendisse potenti. Proin aliquet vulputate
elit. Curabitur mattis adipiscing lacus. Curabitur pede lorem,
molestie vitae, blandit nec, pulvinar quis, est. Suspendisse
vulputate dignissim lorem. Vestibulum a lacus at elit porta pretium.
Etiam pharetra. Integer ac libero. Aliquam sed leo. |
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 Mario
Vega
(Bari Sax & Flute)
Mario Vega is currently the Bari Sax & Flute player for Orquesta
BaKan. A San Francisco native of Mexican and Nicaraguan ancestry
who has been active in the music scene for many years. He has played
with many of the areas' salseros. He started out playing the
clarinet, moved on to the tenor saxophone, harmonica, and flute.
Mario was inspired to take up the baritone sax after hearing the
orchestra of Willie Rosario.
He also plays the saxello and piccolo and enjoys playing other
instruments as well. Along with the mainline styles of salsa,
merengue, and cumbia, Mario continues to play Cuban son, African
highlife, charanga, blues and jazz. You can also find Mario playing
with the legendary Latin rock band Sapo. Mario has been a band
leader and occasionally fronts his own Latin jazz group. He is an
avid horticulturist and proudly keeps a coqui as a pet. |
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 Rolf
Johnson
(Trumpet)
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fringilla ligula quis urna. Quisque quis orci. Nulla facilisi.
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in, vestibulum sit amet, accumsan sed, nulla. Vestibulum a elit. Sed
blandit dolor id pede. Praesent ultrices mauris tempus est. |
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 Christian
Tumalan
(Piano)
Christian Tumalan is currently the Piano player for Orquesta BaKan.
Born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico Christian's music career started
at the early age of 7, where he began acquiring the most important
concepts of music and live performance. In addition to his pianistic
studies, he felt a powerful attraction to the art of composition.
During a period of seven long years, he continued studying classical
piano at the "Escuela Superior de Musica" in Mexico City. Later, he
turned his interests towards Jazz, a language field where he felt a
deep compassion and freedom. He then further developed his skills in
live performance, Jazz and Big Band arranging.
In the year 2001 he became the leader of his own band "Tumbao" where
he had more than 100 performances a year, including private events
and international festivals. He was also the leader of his own latin
jazz band "The Latin Fever Ensemble" during which time he recorded
his first live performance album as a Jazz musician at the age of
21.
His performing experience includes a variety of projects such as
Jazz, Salsa, Pop and Latin Pop as well as Peruvian and Afro-Cuban
music. He has also produced recordings for stage plays and broadcast
"jingles".
Currently, Christian continues his musical studies in the United
States, where he has shared the stage with numerous professional
musicians including John Santos, Pete Escobedo, Tomasito Cruz, Karl
Perazzo, Eddie Marshall, Steve Tyler, Bill Watrous, Giby Ross,
Babatunde Lea, Charles McNeal, Brian Fishler, Brian Andres, Louie
Romero, Orestes Vilato, Benny Velarde, Ray de la Paz, Jeff Mars,
Poncho Sanchez Band, Alex Budman's Contemporary Jazz Orchestra,
among many other local and international artists.
Christian Tumalan has also taken a myriad of professional music
courses and workshops that have enriched his musical knowledge; from
great musicians such as world reknowned music educator Gerald
Wilson, master pianist Bill Bell, saxophonist Michael Brecker, Pat
Metheny group drummer Antonio Sanchez, legendary jazz musician
Winton Marsalis, Creator of the official Latin Real Book: Rebecca
Mauleon Santana; and Mexican jazz educator for the past 30 years,
Francisco Tellez.
Christian’s most influential source of inspiration has been the
connection with his spiritual teacher, Alfredo Offidani, founder of
the "New Phase". The connection with this contemporary teaching,
established in 1995, allowed Christian to start what Alfredo class a
“deep work” with oneself, aiming at increasing awareness,
positivity, true love and friendship, and to ultimately become a
complete human being. Alfredo’s Work has been described in two books
written by his older students, “The Way” (by Juan Sgolastra) and
“Between Heaven and Earth” (by Marco Santello). |
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Sean Zuniga
(Congas)
 Sean is currently the Conga
player for Orquesta BaKan. A San Francisco native, Sean grew up in
the Mission / Bernal Heights section of the city. A lifelong
salsero, Sean's interest in percussion started long before his
Father gave him his first conga at the age of 12. In the late 60's
and early 70's his family would often play the Fania All stars,
Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Ray
Barretto, El Gran Combo, Willie Colon, and Hector LaVoe. Coming from
a family with a history of musicians, Sean was not the first
conguero in his family.
His uncles, the late Richard Ramirez and Tony Zuniga, taught him his
first chops. In the early years Sean studied great congueros such as
Mongo Santamaria, Tata Guines, Ray Barretto, Carlos "Patato" Valdez,
Johnny Rodriguez, Eddie Montalvo, Armando Peraza, Milton Cardona,
and Francisco Aguabella to name a few. Sean has studied with great
bay area percussionists Edgardo Cambon and John Santos and he was
also one of the original members of the La Raza Park Rumba Ensemble.
There Sean refined his rumba skills with the best rumberos from the
Bay Area (most coming from Matanzas, Cuba). Sean got his first break
at the age of 16 when his cousin percussionist Mark "Chato" Pena
invited him to play with Leroy Rodrigues Y Los Islenos at the Puerto
Rican club on Mission St. Sean has played with Ray De La Paz, Chino
Nunez, Orq as well as with many of the local salsa bands in the Bay
Area.
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Mike Rinta
(Trombone)
 Michael Rinta is the current Trombone player for Orquesta BaKan.
Mike has played and/or recorded with Orquesta BaKan, Sly & The
Family Stone, Carlos Santana, George Santana, Herbie Hancock, Wayne
Shorter, Buddy Guy, Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead), Bob Weir (Grateful
Dead), Howard Tate, Otis Clay, Narada Michael Walden, Clarence
Clemens, Mighty Sam McClain, Pine Top Perkins, EC Scott, The
Dynatones, Tommy Castro, Daniel Castro, Sir Mac Rice, Robert
Lockwood Jr., Syl Johnson, Joe Henderson, Pharaoh Sanders, John Lee
Sanders, Chuck Mangione, Harvey Mandel, Sy Klopps Blues Band, Ross
Valory (Journey), Neil Schon (Journey), Pete Sears (Jefferson
Airplane).
Also... The Coup, Michelle Shocked, Patty Paige, Kay Starr, Bette
Lavette, Donald Bailey (Jimmy Smith), Phillip Bailey (Earth, Wind, &
Fire), Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, JJ Malone, Paris Slim, The Boxtops,
The Lettermen, Bonnie Rait, Maria Muldaur, Eddie Santiago, Ray De La
Paz, Lalo Rodriquez, Johnny Polanco, Alfredo De La Fe, Jimmy Bosch,
Larry Harlow, Giovanni Hildago, Pete Escovedo, Charanson, Arturo
Sandoval, Karl Perazzo (Prince), Voices of Latin Rock, Melvin
Sparks, Mark Mullins (Harry Connick Jr.), Bonerama, Mic Gillette,
Brass Monkey Brass Band, Eddie Zip, Bobby McFerrin, Avance,
Mushroom, Eddie Gale (Sun Ra), Pamela Rose, Little Milton, Zazu
Pitts Memorial Orchestra.
More... Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Joe Gallant’s Illuminati, Mitch
Woods & His Rocket 88’s, Rhythm Town Jive, Lavay Smith & The Red Hot
Skillet Lickers, Johnny Nocturne Band, Kirk Hammett (Metallica),
Eddie Money, Johnny Gunn, Linda Tillery, Gail “Mojo” Muldrow (Graham
Central Station), Sugar Pie DeSanto, Bay Area Blues Society, Lisa
Kindred, Johnny Ace, Buddy Miles (Jimmy Hendrix), Ted Curson
(Charles Mingus), Mark Levine, Roger Glen, Louis Madison (James
Brown), Smith Dobson, Caesar’s Latin All-Stars, The Caribbean
All-Stars, and many more! |
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For bookings and further
information, contact...
José Guamán
(925) 382-0510
orquestabakan@yahoo.com
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Copyright Office, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. Washington, D.C. 20559-6000. |
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