BOBBY MATOS

PERCUSSIONIST, COMPOSER, BANDLEADER

official website - myspace page

Bronx born Bobby Matos began playing music beating on pots and pans in Grandma’s apartment and went on to backstage informal lessons with conga drum masters Patato Valdez and Mongo Santamaria.

His first gigs were in the early ˜60’s “beat '" bohemian “ Greenwich Village Cafes, but he soon found himself playing in every type of venue; from Bronx dance halls to Carnegie Hall, to elegant supper clubs, Central Park Concerts, Off Broadway theaters, and ˜After Hours” clubs in El Barrio.

He was inspired and encouraged to play timbales by Willie Bobo and Tito Puente, and in the late ˜60s attended the New School and Manhattan School of Music studying composition and arranging. Around this exciting time for Latin Music in N.Y., he recorded “My Latin Soul” for Philips Records. This recording eventually became a much prized cult classic influencing many ˜70’s and ˜80’s Acid Jazz groups on both sides of the Atlantic...

After touring and recording with artists like Ben Vereen, Bette Midler, Fred Neil, Jim Croce, Ray Rivera, Joe Loco, Miriam Makeeba, and many others, Bobby relocated to Los Angeles where he began experimenting with an Afro Cuban Jazz band where he could blend (and bend) musical elements from Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Wayne Shorter, Eddie Palmieri, and the rich legacy of Afro Cuban music.

In the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, he recorded several albums, most notably 5 critically acclaimed CDs for Ubiquity Records’ “Cubop” label. He also produced CDs for Ray Armando, Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers, Dave Pike, John Santos, and Jack Costanzo. In 2004 he released the critically acclaimed "Made By Hand", a live recording on the artist’s collective Life Force Jazz records,

Bobby continues recording and releasing new music on the LifeForce Jazz imprint including "Acknowledgement" 2005, "Charanga Chango" 2006, "Gratitude" 2007 and "Unity" 2009.

Mambo, Bembe, and Jazz Latino represent healing energy, meditation, and medicine encoded as music. When musicians listen and communicate with each other and their audience on this spiritual level, the music becomes much more than a performance.

BOBBY MATOS AND HIS AFRO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE - UNITY (CD-2009)

Afro Latin Jazz mixes percussive roots of Rumba, Bembe, Mambo Jazz, Bomba, Mozambique, Plena,and Iyesa with hard bop and charanga

Bobby Matos Timbales, congas, güiro & bell
Theo Sanders Piano
John B. Williams Bass
Pablo Calogero Tenor sax, flute
Dan Weinstein Trombone, violin
Robertito Melendez Congas, quinto, pandereta
Jud Matos Percussion
Frank Fontaine Tenor sax
Edwin Livingston Bass
Guests:

Chembo Corniel Congas, percussion
Phoenix Rivera Drums
Binky Griptite Guitar
Bosco Mann Bass
The Mighty Echoes Vocals

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

BOBBY MATOS - CHARANGA CHANGO (2006)

Hard driving latin dance music, salsa, charanga, mambo, and son montuno

Larry Harlow Piano
Leo Chelyapov Clarine
Eliseo Borrero Bass, vocals
Robertito Melendez Congas
Frank Fontaine Flute, baritone sax
Dan Weinstein Trombones, violins, viola
Jud Matos Guiro
Ismael "East" Carlo Coro
Bobby Matos Timbales, clave, quinto, bongo, coro
Victor Cegarra Piano
Michael Turre Flute
Denise Cook Coros
Theo Saunders Piano
John B. Williams Bass
Jacques Voyemant Trombone
Rogelio Mitchell Coro
Mauricio Smith Tenor sax
Maxine Anderson Coors
Tony Middleton Vocals
Ralfi Marzan Bongo...plus many other musicians!!!

review by Roberto Carlos Juan

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

BOBBY MATOS - ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (2005)

Contemporary Latin Jazz with fiery percussion, sax, trombone, violin, and flute solos with influences from Charanga to Coltrane

Frank Fontaine Jr. Baritone sax, tenor sax, and flute
Danny Weinstein Trombone, violin and viola
Theo Saunders Piano
Eliseo Borrero Bass
Robertito Melendez Quinto, bell
Jud Matos Guiro, bell chekere, clave
Bobby Matos Congas, timbales, guiro, coros
Elliott Caine Trumpet
Rogelio Mitchell Coros
Denise Cook Vocals
Andy Harlow Flute
John B. Williams Bass

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels