the latin giants
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The former All-Star members of the TITO PUENTE and MACHITO’s orchestras have, under the auspices of CEO Stew Jackson, recently formed THE LATIN GIANTS BIG BAND to perform the music of Tito Puente, Machito and Tito Rodriguez. Their new CD, The Latin Giants Play the Music of the Palladium, recreates the great moments of Classic Latin Music at its very best. Having toured the world for the last 30+ years with Tito Puente, these wonderful musicians are respected and admired by both Jazz fans and Latin Music aficionados. Unlike other musical idioms, the music performed by the Latin Giants Big Band is danceable, thus creating an enjoyable and exciting ambiance regardless of ethnicity, nationality or age. The orchestra can perform with as few as 12 musicians and as many as 17 and can host several outstanding vocalists, like the great Ray de La Paz.Meet some of The Latin Giants:
José Madera - Musical Director
Born in New York City to Jose “Pin” Madera, who was the first arranger for the Machito Orchestra. Jose started playing timbales with Machito as a teenager and went on to become Tito Puente’s “Conguero” for 30 years. He was the musical director for the Tito Puente Orchestra for the last ten years and was also a staff arranger at the legendary Fania Records since the 1970’s.
Johnny Rodriguez, Jr.
His father was the respected Latin musician, Johnny Rodriguez. He started as a teenager with Tito Rodriguez. Johnny earned a spot playing bongos in the Tito Puente Band for 27 years. That was the beginning of a lifelong association with the man acknowledged as the king of Latin music.
Mitch Frohman
Grew up in the Bronx. For over 25 years he was the sax and flute soloist with the Tito Puente Orchestra and Latin/Jazz Ensemble. He has played and recorded with all of the top artists in this music such as Mongo Santamaria, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. He is the saxophone soloist on the theme song of HBO’s mega hit “Sex and the City”.
Bobby Porcelli
Worked with many Latin and Jazz bands such as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria and the Duke Pearson Big Band to name a few. He also recorded with Machito, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri and under his own name. Bobby was a steady member of Tito Rodriguez, Machito and of course Tito Puente Orchestras.
Mario Rivera
He has been recognized as a great Jazz musician by some of the most prominent performers of his time. Titans such as Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and George Coleman have spoken about him with great respect and admiration, and the late Dizzy Gillespie presented him with one of his trademark trumpets. Mario has learned to play twenty different instruments and remains very active in both the Jazz and Latin jazz circuits. For the last 40 years he has been associated with Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito.
Lewis Kahn
Based in New York City, he has been working as a trombonist and violinist since the late sixties. Alter studying at the Eastman and Juilliard Schools of Music, he went on to perform worldwide in a wide variety of musical styles. Lewis was a member of Tito Puentes’ last working ensemble for 7 years and was an original member of the Fania All-Stars.
Oscar Hernández
Has long been considered one of the most gifted and prominent pianist/arrangers on the contemporary Latin, Latin-Jazz and Salsa Music scenes. Oscar is the Pianist on HBO’s hit “Sex and the City” theme song. He was the musical director of the Ruben Blades Orchestra and currently leads the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
Gerardo Madera
Played bass with Machito and the Tito Puente Orchestra.
George Delgado
One of the greatest Conga players in the scene, George has worked with both Eddie Palmieri and the Tito Puente Orchestra.
Ray de la Paz
One of the greatest Latin vocalists, Ray has worked with Ray Barretto, Luis Ramirez and many other Latin Bands. He beautifully recreates the sounds of Tito Rodriguez, Machito and Santos Colon.