Jazz Round Table #2

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Welcome to our Second Episode! This week’s guests are percussionist Joey De leon, keyboardist/composer/arranger Oscar Hernández, and bassist René Camacho!

In this episode we talk about the musicians’ practice/creative time, Latin Jazz, and more.

Joey De Leon – Percussionist – Has played with such widely diverse artists as Queen Latifah and Al Jarreau to Juan Gabriel and Jennifer Lopez, to Barry Manilow and Cyndi Lauper. Joey plays a percussion piece live and we also play a piece he has recorded as a tribute to John Lewis and his daughter.

We play a clip from a video he did with a Korean artist Kelly Che and the Chestondi Project – “Sailor s Song” Click here to watch the full video.

Towards the beginning of the show we play a clip from a LiveAtZeroBPM show where all three guests played along with drummer, Jimmy Branley – the song we played a clip from was “ESPN Blues” – Click Here to see the full video of the Joey De Leon All-Stars

Oscar Hernández is a Grammy Award winning musician. He leads the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and is at the top of the field for composing and arranging in the Latin jazz scene on both coasts.

There are two clips from the show – both inspired by creating music during the pandemic. You can watch the full videos – click on the song title: “Ritmo Pa’ Ti” and “Romance Divino“

Oscar also plays a few pieces for us on piano

René Camacho – bassist – While known for his playing in the Latin Jazz world, having played with Tito Puente and Pancho Sanchez, he is an amazingly diverse musician who plays with the band War among many artists of different styles. He talks about the role of the bass player in latin music and playes a few tumbaos made famous by the great Latin Jazz bass players

During the discussion The guys talk about “Clave” the rhythmic “key” to a lot of Latin music styles. Here is the “Son Clave” that Joey talks about:

Rene Camacho – Bass
Performed with: The Joey De Leon All-Stars 9/17/20, Jazz Round Table #2 3/16/21, Conganas 4/8/21, Conganas – 6/31/21, Conganas! 9/9/21 Bio – Rene Camacho is an Acoustic, Electric Bassist and Vocalist originally from Tucson, Arizona, now living in Los Angeles. While trombone was his first instrument, he always had an affinity for the Bass and in his college years, Rene made the switch. Rene received a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from The University of Arizona. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1996, Rene has had the opportunity to explore many musical ventures, both in live performances and studio recordings. Rene began working with many Latin artists, shortly after moving to Los Angeles most notably, a five year stint with the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz and a brief time with the King of Mambo, Tito Puente. Artists that he has worked with include: Sergio Mendes, Ry Cooder, Michael Bublé, Oscar Castro Neves, Michael McDonald, Poncho Sanchez, Tipica ’73, Robben Ford, Angelique Kidjo, Linda Ronstadt, Draco Rosa, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Raul Malo (The Mavericks), Rickie Lee Jones, Juan Gabriel, The Fifth Dimension, The Pointer Sisters, Ron Blake, Francisco Torres, Oscar Hernandez, Canadian Pianist Carol Welsman, Arnold McCuller, the Disney Channel and Guitarist Dean Brown. Rene continues to actively record with artists from all over the musical world and currently performs with Draco Rosa, Kevin Eubanks, WAR and many others....MORE INFO!

Joey De Leon – Percussion
Performed with: The Miley/Koonse/De Leon Trio 8/6/20, The Joey De Leon All-Stars 9/17/20, Socially Distant Show #6 2/11/21, Jazz Round Table #2 3/16/21 Bio – Joey DeLeon has performed or recorded with artists of almost every genre from jazz, Latin, pop, and contemporary classical. The diverse list of artists is too long to mention but vary as wide as Queen Latifah and Al Jarreau to Juan Gabriel and Jennifer Lopez, to Barry Manilow and Cyndi Lauper, to George Crumb and Tan Dun. He was a member of The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band from 2006-2018 and Arturo Sandoval from 2012-2014. He currently plays with the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band.  The latter two have garnered him Grammy Awards....MORE INFO!

Oscar Hernandez – Keyboards
Performed with: The Joey De Leon All-Stars 9/17/20, Jazz Round Table #2 3/16/21 Bio – 4X Grammy Award Winner Oscar Hernández has long been considered one of the most gifted and prominent pianist/ arrangers on the contemporary Latin, Latin-jazz and salsa music scene. He has achieved legendary status for his prolific career spanning now over 40 years. Oscar’s career as a professional began in the 70’s performing and recording with such seminal artists as Ismael Miranda, Ray Barreto, Celia Cruz, Conjunto Libre, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez & Grupo Folklorico. Oscar was responsible for charting the musical course of the Rubén Blades Band. “Seis Del Solar”. Increasingly in demand as a pianist, arranger and producer, the Bronx native has produced such artists as Ruben Blades, Paul Simon, Willie Colón “Carabali”, Daniel Ponce, Rafael Dejesus, Eddie Torres, Phil Hernandez, Steve Kroon, Juan Luis Guerra, etc. and than made a more personal statement with the debut CD’s “Decision” and “Alternate Roots” by his band Seis Del Solar the Rubén Blades Band sans Rubén, and now with his 3X Grammy Award winning band, Spanish Harlem Orchestra. In addition to being Rubén Blades pianist, arranger and musical director, Oscar Hernández has enjoyed a prolific musical career recording and performing with such world renown artists as Latin music king Tito Puente, Queen of Salsa Music Celia Cruz, Latin Pop Star Julio Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, Ray Barreto, Earl Klugh, Dave Valentin, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Pete”Conde” Rodríquez, Oscar De’leon, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, “Libre’ “Grupo Folkorico Experimental”, Willie Colón, Kirsty MacColl, etc. Oscar’s musical exploits include working as Musical Director/Conductor, arranging and producing the music for “The Capeman,” pop-rock icon Paul Simon’s Broadway musical. In addition, Oscar is also the music producer of “The Capeman” cast recording. Oscar was Musical Director/Arranger for the hit shows “Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe” and “La Lupe” at the 47th Street Theatre. He was also, Music Supervisor/Arranger for the show “Four Guys named Jose & Una Mujer named Maria.” Oscar’s work as a studio session player can also be heard on numerous commercial jingles, some of which he has written and arranged. Among those is the hit show “Sex and the City.” In addition to leading New York’s Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Oscar also has released 2 CD’s as a solo artist, Oscar Hernández & Alma Libre, titled“ The Art of Latin Jazz” and  “Love The Moment” on Origin Records....MORE INFO!