Join us for a night of live original music in the lounge with Hugo Cruz and Caminos featuring special guests, Don Aliquo, George Jones and Frank Cunimondo. Voice of Drums is a visionary collaboration of percussion. A fusion of old world and new world beats.
The Caminos fuse rhythms and melodies of Afro-Cuban, Cuban, and American music, in an original contemporary expression that honors traditional Cuban form. Hugo Cruz and Caminos released an album this February called Punto de Partida, featuring many notable musicians from Cuba and the U.S., recording eight of Hugo’s original compositions. In May 2022 Caminos was the Jazz Band headliner for the Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival in Indiana PA. Caminos also have been performing a concert series called, The Voice of Drums, which brings many great drummers from the Pittsburgh area such: Roger Humphries, Poogie Bell, Tubby Daniels, Noel Quintana, Dennis Gardner, Jeff Berman, James Johnson III, to join Camino’s way of expressing music.
-----------
About the Musicians:
Hugo Cruz-
Hugo Alexander Cruz Machado is a Cuban-born, award winning, international drummer and composer who has performed in South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, and the United States. Hugo is the leader of the group Caminos, who have made appearances at Pittonkatonk music festival, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival 2019, Fábrica de Artes in Havana, Cuba, First Night Pittsburgh 2020, City of Asylum, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust events, The Frick Museum, Con Alma, Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh,Carnegie Music Hall Oakland, Pittsburgh PlayHouse, and events with Chamber Music Pittsburgh, Equity Impact, University of Pittsburgh Afro Latinidad Festival, and Pittsburgh World Affairs Council, Indiana PA Blues and Jazz festival, Three Rivers Casino, among others.
Don Aliquo-
Don Aliquo has played all major venues and jazz festivals in Pittsburgh including Heinz Hall, The Benedum, and Syria Mosque. Don was guest soloist with the Three Rivers Brass Band in 1992. He has performed for President Harry Truman while with the Walter Reed Army Band. Don has also had itinerate performances with Woody Herman, Johnny Long, Nelson Riddle, Billy Buterfield and many others. He has played with the Pittsburgh Steelers Pep Band during the Super Bowl years. Later he played with Walt Harper and he has played with the late Johnny Costa and Joe Negri (of Mister Rogers Fame) and John Wilson. Don is currently working throughout the Pittsburgh market. Recordings are available via the Mark Perna Music website.
George Jones-
A self-taught percussionist, George Jones has been a mainstay on the Pittsburgh music scene for more than 30 years and recognized as the finest conga player in the area. George's mother was a bass player with the famous “International Sweethearts of Rhythm”, traveling across the country until settling in Pittsburgh in the fifties She was the inspiration and motivation for George's interest and love of jazz, exposing him to “Jazz at the Philharmonic” at an early age. During a stint in the military in the sixties, George played on pots and pans - anything he could get his hands on - and developed his interest in African drums and rhythm. George returned to Pittsburgh, where he was further encouraged by Eric Kloss and Roger Humphries. George has performed countless concerts and club dates with Pittsburgh jazz greats and internationally known artists Pharoah Sanders, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Ray Mantilla, and Larry Coryell. In 1984, George co-founded the seminal Latin Jazz group “Salsamba” with guitarist Eric Susoeff, recording six CDs with the band. George continues to play and teach in the Pittsburgh area
There will be a $5 cover to support Live Music Programming.