- Genre :: Latin Jazz
- Listen :: Track 1
- View :: Band Website
Annette A. Aguilar and StringBeans Latin Jazz Quartet were selected as Latin Jazz Ambassadors of 2003 and 2005 for the U.S State department and the Kennedy Center and now for Jazz at Lincoln Center. This versatile group toured Southern Africa and Rwanda sharing their knowledge of the music of the Americas and the Caribbean. Blending Afro-Cuban,Jazz and Afro-Brazilian rhythms with guitar, violin, trombone piano and bass, this exquisite ensemble creates a unique string and percussion sound. This extraordinary group of outstanding musicians which includes, Freddie Bryant: Guitar and 12 string, Rob Thomas: Violin/bass, Barry Olsen: piano/trombone/percussion, Annette A Aguilar: leader Percussionist, have performed with some of the greats in the music world from Tito Puente, Spanish Harlem Orchestra to Mahavishnu Project and the Grateful Dead.
Annette A. Aguilar is a versatile percussionist and composer. Born in San Francisco, CA, she began playing music at age 11. Since then, Ms. Aguilar plays various percussion instruments including congas, hand drums, marimbas, and timpani. At 16, she was recognized for her percussion playing and began sitting in with internationally renowned Latin artists such as Chepito Areas, Cal Tjader and Pete and Sheila Escovedo (later known as Sheila E.). In a professional career that has spanned more than 20 years, Ms. Aguilar has recorded albums and television broadcasts and has toured extensively with Latin, reggae, classical, pop, and jazz artists. Ms. Aguilar's Broadway credits include Grammy-winning Smokey Joe's Café.
Rob Thomas has been recognized by international critics and audiences as one of the most original, technically adept, and powerful violinists playing jazz and contemporary music today. Mr. Thomas has been a vibrant part of the creative music scene in New York City since he moved there in 1991. He is an active freelancer, contributing to recent recordings by Lee Konitz, Andy Summers, Los Jovenes Del Barrio and Marc Ribot. He has also performed with Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Max Roach, Bobby Previte, Claude "Fiddler" Williams and The Soldier String Quartet. Mr. Thomas has taught at Reed and Marylhurst Colleges,and at Cornish College of the Arts. He is currently an Associate Professor of strings at Boston's Berklee College of Music.
Barry Olsen, a native New Yorker, began his professional career in the late 70's, playing trombone in the city's Latin dance music scene. Over the years, he has performed with many artists including Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and La India. He has also worked with David Byrne, Charlie Persip and many others. He is frequently heard in the orchestra of the Broadway hit The Lion King.
Freddie Bryant is a versatile musician skilled both in jazz and classical music with a Master's degree in classical guitar from the Yale School of Music. Mr. Bryant has an extensive knowledge of Brazilian guitar. His most recent CD is with the group Trio del Sol. He recently performed at the Kennedy Center with the Billy Taylor Trio that was broadcast on the National Public Radio Show, "Live at the Kennedy Center." In 2004 he had the honor of being a Copeland Fellow, a composer in residence at Amherst College.
