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VibraSÓN Band Members

Jake Jacobs: percussion/vocals, musical director, producer

Jake comes to VibraSÓN from a somewhat different background. Originally from the Midwest, Jake studied classical piano and music theory in college at Univ. of Illinois, taking up Jazz piano after graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, and then became involved in Latin music and dance in the 1990s when he took a keen interest in Salsa dance. Jake has taught nightclub salsa dance lessons for over 20 years in the Bay Area and worldwide, and finally honing his skills in Latin music over 15 years ago with the addition of percussion. Jake studied with many of the Bay Area greats, including Karl Perazzo, Edgardo Cambon, Louie Romero, Carlos Caro, Michael Spiro, and others, but teaching at the Bay Area's largest Salsa club for over 15 years gave him a unique opportunity to study the music first hand, and also sit in with over 20 bands while he was coming up in the ranks.  He played regularly with several salsa bands. Jake's dad was a working pianist for over 50 years, his uncle was a famous xylophone player and Jake always had a taste for vibes-based salsa, conceiving of this band in 2012.

Manny Martinez - Lead vocals

A New Yorker who spent his teenage years in Puerto Rico, Manny Martinez is a powerhouse vocalist who’s played a central role on the Bay Area alternative music scene for three decades. He’s best known in some circles for his work as frontman for the alt-rock band Psychefunkapus. For rock en español fans he’s indelibly linked to the alt-Latin combo Los Mocosos, while others think of Martinez as a top-notch salsero via San Francisco based bands Mazacote, Azabache, John Santos, and Jesus Diaz. Manny also has a history with dancing and appreciates the VibraSON repertoire and how it caters to dancers! He is an amazing talent who brings powerful vocals as well as fun to the music.

Luis Morales - lead vocals

Luis has a long and diverse history in music, starting with one of the best Salsa bands on the West Coast - Avance! led by Santana Band percussionist and maestro Karl Perazzo. Luis has been a vocalist with many of the hottest Bay Area salsa bands. Luis now sings with Pop Fiction a very popular band here in California, Montuno Swing, and our very own VibraSÓN.  

 NOTE: As of 2021, Luis has left the SF Bay Area for Mexico and Manny Martinez has the role of Lead Vocals now.

Carlos Caro - percussion

Carlos Caro, originally from Cuba, has a long and distinguished career in music. He has played with many other great musicians as one of the best percussionists in the world. Carlos plays with a number of Salsa bands in the Bay Area, including his own band called Vission Latina. He also is a great instructor for aspiring musicians, and a 2014 GRAMMY® Award Winning percussionist.

A native of Havana, Cuba. Born on August 13 on 1967. Carlos Caro was musically educated throughout his youth, graduating from the Alejandro Garcia Cultural Conservatory in Havana and the ENIA (National School of Arts Instructors), after which he began his professional career with the group “Clave.”

He has performed on tour with and has recorded for some of Cuba's biggest names in music including Paulo Fernandez Gallo and Jackeline Castellano's best selling "La Dama Del Son"Caro immigrated to Mexico City in 1993 where he was commissioned to record and perform a work in the Danzon style with the Mexico City Philharmonic.

He then appeared on the West Coast music scene in 1996 to quickly become one of the most sought-after Latin percussionists, simultaneously playing in the best Cubano, Salsa, and Latin Rock bands throughout the San Francisco bay area. He has performed with Rebeca Mauleóón, Omar Sosa, QBA, Avance, Eddie Palmieri, Armando Perazza, Candela, Malo, Ritmo Y Armonia, Dr. Loco's Rocking Jalapeño Band in 2004.

Carlos Caro released his first album with Vission Latina and the second one in April of 2010. Music from this CD was recently chosen for a movie soundtrack!

Charlie Barreda - vibraphone

Charlie is an accomplished pianist and has played with many of the Bay Area Salsa bands. He also has a Latin Jazz band where he plays vibraphone, which made him a perfect choice for the repertoire of VibraSÓN! 

Arranger and Composer Charles Barreda is a man totally dedicated to his art. Charles "Carlos" Barreda" Keyboardist, Vibraphonist - Marimbist, Drummer - Percussionist. 

Freelancing with many bands in the San Francisco Bay Area and booking his own bands "CORCOVADO" and "THE MARIMBA CONNECTION", he is a well regarded musician, band leader and producer for music projects.

Since moving to San Francisco - California in 1973, Charles has performed and recorded with many of the SF Bay Area well known musicians and groups. Among them: Jules Broussard, E.W. Weinwright (African Roots of Jazz), George Cables, Si Perkoff, Tony Menjivar (Malo, Angela Bofil), Leo Rosales (Malo), Chalo Eduardo (perc.Sergio Mendez), David Rokeach (drums - Ray  Charles), Orestes Vilato (Fania All Stars, Ray Barreto, Santana), Louie Romero (Willie Colon),  Abel Figueroa (trb.Sonora Poncena, Santana), Karl Perazzo (currently with Santana), Pete Escovedo, The Cal Tjader Rhythm Section: Mark Levine (piano), Rob Fisher (bass), Vince Lateano (drums),Willy T. Colon (congas). Tito Garcia y Orquesta Intenacional, Pepe y su Orquesta, Safari, Kimbombo, Orquesta Kache, Actualidad, Classax, Radcliff, Sky Blue Waters,  Montenegro Jazz Trio among others.

Charles musical career started at the early age of twelve in his native Peru; where he played,  recorded and toured Peru and South America. His formal training began in San Francisco - California at the Music & Arts Institute of San Francisco, where he studied classical percussion with Jack Van Der Wyck. He obtained a Masters Degree in Percussion and taught at the institute until 1988 when it closed.

In 1982 Charles was ready to study more Jazz theory and improvisation on the Vibraphone. He  asked SF Bay Area Latin Jazz Vibraphone legend Cal Tjader for private lessons, but at the time Cal was busy touring. His album "La Onda Va Bien" had won the 1981 Grammy Latin Jazz category. Cal highly recommended vibraphonist - percussionist John Rae, who had played vibes for George Shearing, Mongo Santamaria etc.. and was the principal percussionist for the Broadway shows that came to San Francisco. 

Marco Diaz - piano/vocals

Marco Diaz is a talented musician that started playing trumpet (and still does) and then became one of the Bay Area favorite pianists.  

Marco Diaz was born and raised in San Francisco and was introduced to the trumpet in the fourth grade at E.R. Taylor Elementary School. His formal training in both piano and trumpet began at the age of 14. He earned a scholarship from the Community Music Center in San Francisco, and began playing professionally at the age of 17 throughout the Bay Area with various Latin Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, and R&B bands. He continued his studies at San Francisco State University earning a Bachelors of Arts in Popular Music and a minor in Economics.

In addition to his studies Marco has been influenced by Afro-Cuban music through world renowned musicians, such as, Jesus Diaz, who he played and recorded with for eight years, John Santos, Orestes Vilato, Edgardo Cambon, and Carlos Caro.

Today, Marco is an accomplished recording musician who has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artist, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Jimmy Bosch, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ska Cubano (Europe), Tito Rojas, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Anthony Blea, Jovino Santos Neto, Joe Santiago, and is an integral member of the John Santos sextet, Bobi Cespedes group, and Doug Beavers’ Orquesta Rovida. Marco has participated in the San Francisco Symphony AIM program since 2000 and currently produces records and performs music throughout the country while also co-leading Vission Latina, an Afro-Caribbean dance band. Marco released his first CD titled "Life Notes" and recently released his 2nd CD titled “Insight” in 2019.

Saùl Sierra-Alonso - bass

Saùl has played with many of the Latin bands in the Bay Area and studied at the famous Berklee School of Music in Boston. Saùl has worked extensively in the Salsa and Latin music scene and offers great expertise and musical experience.

Saúl Sierra Born and raised in Mexico City, where he started playing professionally in 1990. He moved to Boston Mass. in 1995 and attended the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in the summer of 1999, with a major in Performance. Some of his teachers included Oscar Stagnaro, Rich Appleman, Daniel Morris, and Jim Stinnet. He received the US Scholarship tour award and the Outstanding Performer award at Berklee.

As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area since the fall of 1999, Saúl has performed, toured or recorded with Nestor Torres, Jimmy Bosh, Eddie Montalvo, Johny Rodríguez, Orestes Vilató, Bobi Céspedes, Antonio Sánchez, Miles Peña, John Santos, Jesús Díaz, Rebeca Mauleón, Mark Levine, Greg Landau, Mike Spiro, Jackeline Rago, Chuchito Valdez, Alexander Livinali, Wayne Wallace, Aquiles Baez, Marco Granados, Anthony Blea, Doug Beavers, and María Márquez, among others.

For the past 10 years Saúl has been a member of some of the leading bands in the Bay Area, including The John Santos Quintet/Sextet, Bobi Cespedes’ band, Dr. Loco’s Rocking Jalapeño Band, El Tren Trío, Anthony Blea y su Charanga, The Snake Trío, Jesús Díaz y su QBA, The Bay Area Afro-Cuban All Stars, The Venezuelan Music Project, Corazón Sur, and Sababa band.

A founding member of Vission Latina, the band that he co-leads with Carlos Caro, percussionist extraordinaire, and Marco Díaz, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist (piano/trumpet ), Saúl keeps himself busy performing, composing, arranging and teaching in the world class musical community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Christian Pepin, Percussion, vocals

A musical multi-lingual, GRAMMY® Award Winning percussionist, Christian Pepin, is a versatile musician embodying the soul of a percussionist that inherently stirs the human spirit. Christian Pepin shows perceptiveness and adoration for Latin music combined with experience beyond his years.

From his humble roots in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Christian Pepin has played music all his life. His father, a gifted musician in his own right, and mother,  a talented vocalist, gave him a set of drums at the tender age of six.  As he became older, he made the transition to timbale, then congas, and onto bongó all while perfecting his musical craft. Music is innately a dominant part of the Pepin family: his great-grandfather Toño Pepin, his Grandfather Papo Pepin, and his cousin Bobby Allende.

-2014 GRAMMY® Award Winning percussionist w/ Pacific Mambo Orchestra

-Recordings: Pacific Mambo Orchestra; Fred Randolph; Michael O’Neill; Kenny Washington; Lary Barilleau; David Jackson & W.O.W; Pedro Rosales; Julio Bravo; Montuno Swing; Aaron Routtenburg; Santos Perdidos; Armando Cordoba, Latin Rhythm Boys among others. -Joined VibraSON in 2014. -Christian left the band in 2023

VibraSON - Associate members and contributors:

As with most bands in the Bay Area, we also work with other musicians who provide their own spice to the mix when founding members are not available:

Edgardo Cambon - Lead vocals, Conga

Edgardo Cambon was nicknamed “El Sonero Del Uruguay” by master Cuban pianist Jesús “Chucho” Valdes while singing with his group “Irakere” at the Habana Jazz Festival. Edgardo started his professional career at the early age of 9, singing Tangos on public TV, and playing traditional "Bombo Leguero" (a low pitch double headed drum, very popular throughout South America) as well as the Uruguayan Candombe drums. When he turned thirteen, he heard Santana's "Abraxas" album. "I got so excited that my father bought me a cheap bongo so I would stop “drumming” on the back of my Spanish guitar!"

Cambon has performed and toured throughout South America, Europe and Africa and has resided in the USA since 1987. Although mainly self taught, he has also traveled to Cuba many times since 1989, where he studied at the ENA (National School of Arts) in Havana and privately with master drummers Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana, Vizcano Guillot, Octavio Rodriguez and Justo Pelladito among others, and while in Cuba, he performed at the Havana Jazz and Benny Moré Festivals.

Edgardo has performed and/or recorded with artists such as "Chucho" Valdes (Irakere), Carlos Santana, José Luis “Changuito” Quintana, Joan Baez, Claudia Gomez, Jerry Rivera, Eddie Santiago, Keith Terry (Crosspulse), “Los Muñequitos de Matanzas”, Omar Sosa, Mark Levine, Andy Narell, Sovosó (formerly Bobby Mc Ferrin's "Voicestra") Mike Spiro,  Karl Perazzo,  Rebeca Mauleón, Jackie Rago, Richard Olsen Big Band, Los Compas, Sol y Luna Band, Maraca, Eddie Montalvo, Giovanni Hildalgo, Johnny Rodriguez, Armando Perazza and many others.

Edgardo also leads his own salsa band Candela and the a smaller quintet called LaTiDo.

Julio Perez: Conga

 Born in Puerto Rico, Julio Perez shares a long history with other band members Marco Diaz, Saul Sierra, and Carlos Caro making music in the San Francisco Bay Area and also when he visits home to Puerto Rico. Julio plays all the percussion instruments with precision and feeling, and from memory as well, since he lost his sight as a young boy. Julio brings great musicianship and great friendship to VibraSON and co-stars in a number of other productions around the area including concerts by Bobi Cespedes, John Santos, Marco Diaz and other local bands.

Sean Zuniga: Conga

A San Francisco native, Sean grew up in the Mission / Bernal Heights section of the city. A lifelong salsero, Sean's interest in percussion started long before his Father gave him his first conga at the age of 12. In the late 60's and early 70's his family would often play the Fania All stars, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Joe Cuba, Cal Tjader, El Gran Combo, Willie Colon, and Hector LaVoe. Coming from a family with a history of musicians, which includes legendary jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. Sean was not the first conguero in his family, his uncles, the late Richard Ramirez and Tony Zuniga, taught him his first chops. In the early years Sean studied great congueros such as Mongo Santamaria, Tata Guines, Ray Barretto, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Johnny Rodriguez, Eddie Montalvo, Armando Peraza, Milton Cardona, and Francisco Aguabella to name a few. Sean has studied with legendary Bay Area percussionists Edgardo Cambon and John Santos. Sean got his first break at the age of 16 when he was invited to play with Leroy Rodrigues Y Los Isleños at the Puerto Rican Club in San Francisco. Sean has played with Maelo Ruiz, Lalo Rodriguez, Ray De La Paz, Ray Sepulveda, Van Lester, Mel Martinez, Hector Rey,  Jimmy Bosch and Chino Nunez, as well as with many of the local salsa bands in the Bay Area.

Other important contributors:

Karl Perazzo: Timbale, Conga, Bongo, etc!

World renown percussionist Karl Perazzo often sits in with VibraSON when he is not on tour with the Santana Band and has been a fixture and inspiration for the Bay Area Latin Music scene since his teenage years growing up in San Francisco. Karl also leads the salsa bands Avance and Karabali. Karl is an amazing performer, educator, and personality and his knowledge of the genre(s) of Latin music is encyclopedic! Karl also helped arrange percussion and performed on the two Singles released by VibraSON in Sept 2021, recorded “in captivity” during the pandemic. We’re proud to work with him on Bay Area shows.

Erick Peralta: Piano

An amazing young talent and graduate of Berklee School of Music, Erick grew up in the Bay area idolizing Latin musicians such as Papo Luca and many other talented pianists. At just 17 he shared the stage with Papo Luca in a concert by El Gran Combo, trading solos with the maestro. His technical abilities are quite remarkable and he plays with numerous bands in the Bay Area, as well as arranging music for many as well. Erick is a regular with VibraSON at Latin Vibe Tuesdays and was musical director and arranger for the “Riete” tune on their first CD.

Dan Neville: vibes

Originally from the Bay Area, Dan Neville studied jazz arranging and improvisation with Bennett Friedman at Santa Rosa JC, studied composition and piano with Rebeca Mauleon at City College of San Francisco and received a BA in Jazz Music at California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA. He continues to study the West African balafon with Guinean master and Griot Mohammed Kouyaté. Dan graduated from the Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA several years ago and is now living on the E. Coast and pursuing a Master’s Degree in music education after living in Cali Colombia and studying, performing and setting up a recording studio there. He wrote, arranged for and performed with SFJAZZ Center's Monday Night Big Band for 7 seasons (2013-2016). In 2017, he won 1st place in the 2017 Jazz Search West competition. Dan has been featured on NBC’s Today Show playing vibraphone. When Dan is in town he plays with VibraSON when the opportunity arises and Dan and Jake co-arranged the Single “De Vez en Cuando” that VibraSON released in September 2021!

Anthony del Barrio: Piano

Born and raised in San Francisco, Anthony first took piano lessons at 5 years old, starting with classical training. In the 7th grade, Anthony stepped outside of the classical piano world and joined the Jazz band at Herbert Hoover Middle School. After middle school, Anthony was awarded a full scholarship ride to Stanford Jazz Workshop where he studied under Taylor Eigsti and learned the first steps towards improvising on the piano. This led to Anthony auditioning and being the only incoming Freshman accepted at the piano department of the School of the Arts High School of San Francisco, where Anthony also joined the Jazz Big Band, Latin Band, and small jazz combo. Outside of high school, Anthony played for the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco led by Dr. John Calloway.

Anthony was awarded a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he dual majored in Piano Performance and Jazz Composition. Anthony was also involved in the Berklee Salsa Ensemble and Latin Jazz recording ensemble, The Meters Ensemble, and Pat Metheny Ensemble. At Berklee, Anthony studied piano from master pianists Nandi Michelin, Jeff Covell, Steven Hunt, and Matt Jenson.

Anthony brings a new sound and style to the keyboards in VibraSÓN. (2022)

Steve Herrera: Bass

A dedicated and talented bass player, Steve often plays with VibraSON and brings his own feel to the band.

Carlos Xavier

Carlos has his own band as well and some popular releases on Spotify from his original songwriting.

Miguel Melgoza: Timbale

Miguel was a founding member of VibraSON. He has since re-located to the Phoenix, AZ area...

Christelle Durandy: Lead Vocals

Christelle is an amazing vocalist and currently tours with Pacific Mambo Orquestra. When in town, she’ll occasionally sing with VibraSON

Jeff Cordoba: Lead Vocals

Jeff was a vocalist with Bay Area Band Avance (led by Karl Perazzo) for several decades and often sings backings for visiting artists as well.

Ernesto Mazar Kindelan: Bass

Ernesto is a talented Cuban musician and educator here in the Bay Area.

Aaron Routtenberg: Timbale, Conga

David Pinto: Bass

David, from Peru, has played and recorded with many artists in Peru and the Bay Area.

Odalys Caro: Piano

A fresh graduate of Berklee School of Music and the daughter of Congero Carlos Caro, Odalys brings a lot of great experience to the band.

We thank all the great musicians that have contributed to VibraSON!

Bookings

For bookings, please contact Jake using the contact form on this site.  You may also visit us on our Facebook page.  VibraSON is a great choice for music for you event, dinner party, wedding (wedding band), salsa club, outdoor festival, etc.!

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