Sofrito & the Blues
- New York City, NY
- Latin Jazz Band
Chris W. said “I direct a concert series in Manhattan called Live@W83 and I'm so glad we booked Sofrito and the Blues. First of all, they are an incredible band…”
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We are professional musicians in New York City, playing típica Latin and Latin Jazz in nightclub, concert, fundraiser, wedding, and private party settings. We've been playing in the New York City metro area for many years. New to GigSalad, our reviews have been positive by all, such as:
“These guys are unbelievable. They definitely MADE the party! No one could stop talking about them and everyone wants to know if we can use them again!!” Valerie, Caldwell, NJ
“They set just the right mood and tone for our Havana Nights themed party. My guests danced and also simply enjoyed smoking cigars, sipping on mojitos and Cuba libres while listening to smooth Latin jazz. Thank you!!” Kanika, NYC
Be the first to review La Banda Ramirez
Price Range: Contact for rates
La Banda Ramirez plays Latin Jazz works by Charlie Palmieri, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Bill O’Connell, Cal Djader, Don Grolnick, Humberto Ramirez (no relation), José Luís Cortés, ourselves, and others. We also play our arrangements of “típica” music that provided roots of Latin Jazz. For example, we made our arrangements of Cuban songs such as “Tumba la caña Jibarito,” a call-and-response work song about the sugar cane fields, and the elegant “Almendra,” calling on charanga flute style. Such folkloristic music passed into more elaborate arrangements by sophisticated musicians, later mixing with jazz to become Latin Jazz. We love the roots and the branches.
Performances in Concerts and Festivals
Seven years at Paris Blues Harlem, playing twice monthly (2013 – 2020)
Riverfest, Bound Brook, NJ (2018, 2019, 2021)
Jazz at the Plaza Concerts, East Orange, NJ (2018)
DROM, New York City (2019)
Club Bonafide, New York City (2019)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva NY (2015)
Flower Mart, National Cathedral, Washington DC (2010)
Tusten Theater, Narrowsburg NY (2010)
Others
Recent Fundraising Galas and Events
Lattingtown Beach House (2021)
The Latin Jazz & Salsa Show, Inc., Richmond, VA (2019)
New York Immigration Coalition, at Guastavino’s, New York City (2019)
Upwardly Global, immigration services, Tribeca360, NYC (2019)
WeAct for Environmental Justice, International House, NYC (2014 through 2019)
Esther’s Aide, Riverside Church, NYC (2017, 2019)
Bacardi Rum, private promotional events, Cipriani Wall Street (2018) and Pier A (2019)
Party Rental, Inc. employee party, The Brownstone, Paterson, NJ. (2018)
American Federation of Arts, annual gala, Metropolitan Club, New York City (2015)
The Brownstone School, annual fundraiser, Upper West Side, NYC. (2014)
Museum of Food and Drink, fundraiser in the museum, Brooklyn (2014)
Violet Torch Foundation, “Havana Nights” fundraiser. Mt. Vernon, NY (2015)
Sebago Canoe Club, 75th Anniversary fundraiser.
And many private parties and weddings.
Percussionist Chacho Ramirez is a versatile player of wide repertoire, from Latin jazz, samba, and salsa, to swing, fusion and funk, on drums, congas, bongos, and timbales. He has recorded three albums with his Latin jazz quintets, Metrotang and La Banda Ramirez, and has performed and/or recorded with Ahmad Jamal, Alex Blake, Hal Galper, Bill Jacobs, Ron Gill, and many others. From 2013 until March 2020, his band, La Banda Ramirez, co-led with Carolyn Steinberg, performed twice monthly at Paris Blues Harlem, and in festivals, parties, and fundraisers, including The Latin Jazz and Salsa Show Festival in Richmond VA, RiverFest in Bound Brook NJ, and venues in New York City such as The Metropolitan Club, Triad Theatre, Club Bonafide, and DROM. La Banda Ramirez’s second album, entitled “Cuban Butterflies,” will be released in October 2021. It includes original works by three bandmembers, and new arrangements of pieces by Bill Jacobs, Humberto Ramirez (no relation), and José Luís Cortés.
Flutist Carolyn Steinberg earned her doctoral degree in music composition from The Juilliard School and has written over 100 works of vocal and instrumental music, with concert performances in U.S. and Europe (Tanglewood, Darmstadt, Donaueschingen), with commissions by the Fromm Foundation, Southwest German Radio Orchestra, New York State Council on the Arts, and others. Playing Latin Jazz flute with co-leader Chacho Ramirez of La Banda Ramirez, she has arranged and performed on concert stages, for parties, fundraisers, and weddings, throughout the New York City metropolitan area, including seven years twice monthly at Paris Blues in Harlem. She has produced four albums: “Songs, Dances, Duos,” “Lights Out,” “A Family Ting,” and “Cuban Butterflies.” Work experiences include finance, grant-writing, and management.
Conguero Joaquin Pozo, originally from Havana, Cuba, comes from a long family tradition of music. Pozo began playing music when he was 8 years old, his professional career beginning at age 15. Pozo has performed in France, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, Colombia, and other countries. In Havana, he was a professor at the National Arts School and the University ISA. Since arriving in New York City in 2012, he has performed with his group Joaquin Pozo y La Clave Suena at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, SOB's, and Minton's. He leads percussion workshops and teaches private students, with percussion workshops at Local 802 in NYC, and in Chicago and Washington D.C.. Joaquin Pozo is a master percussionist and composer known for his uniquely virtuosic style on the congas: rhythmic, melodic and hard-hitting. He plays percussion of all genres including Latin Jazz, salsa, rumba, and folkloric music of Cuba.
Pianist Jack Glottman began playing the piano, guitar and bass in his native Bogotá, Colombia. Initially self-taught, he later focused his studies on piano and jazz at Yelling Arts School and Israel Conservatory in Tel Aviv, soon playing with Louis Hayes, Eddie Marshall, Walter Blanding, Eric Alexander and Miles Griffith. Since moving to New York City in 2003, Glottman has performed at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, Lenox Lounge, Smalls, and Paris Blues, with musicians Melissa Walker, Rafi Malkiel, “Grupo Cachimba,” at locales such as Fat Cat (now CellarDogs), La Banda Ramirez, the Fat Cat Big Band, the Afro-Cuban Big Band, Christian McBride, Ron Blake, and Wes Anderson. Mr. Glottman has two independently produced CDs of original material, recorded numerous others, and has held artists’ residencies at the Kennedy Center and Steans Institute for Young Artists in Ravinia, Illinois.
Bassist Michael O'Brien holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota with a major in the Spanish language. He studied bass under Anthony Cox, and West African and Haitian percussion under Marc Anderson. He has been performing and composing internationally for two decades with such notables as Harry Connick Jr., Ruben Blades, The Merce Cunningham Dance Co., Gene Pitney, Dave Samuels, Pablo Ziegler, Steve Wilson, Victor Lewis, Gene Jackson, Portinho, Ted Nash, and many others. Michael has performed at festivals in Russia, Belarus, Haiti, Mexico, Norway, Ukraine, Japan, and nationally at the Lincoln Center Festival, JEN (Jazz Educators Network), IAJE (International Jazz Educators conference), and others. Michael has taught clinics and performed master classes throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Chris W. said “I direct a concert series in Manhattan called Live@W83 and I'm so glad we booked Sofrito and the Blues. First of all, they are an incredible band…”
Sarah F. said “Matthew helped me curate the perfect entertainment addition to the company holiday party I was planning. Matthew and his band were on time, professional…”
Paige K. said “This band is extremely talented, dressed appropriately for the event, and were also wonderful to our guests. We highly recommend them and look forward…”
Svyatets said “He did a fantastic job and made our wedding really special! Our guests loved him and made multiple comments to me after the wedding. Thanks Anthony!”