Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

Daniel Amat, Cuban pianist, born in a small town of Havana called Güira de Melena. He grew up surrounded by the rhythms and harmonies of his native Cuba. From a very young age, he was influenced by his father Pancho Amat, one of the essential tres players of all times, who passed him the tradition of son, trova, and rumba. While pursuing his formal studies at the National School of Music in Havana, Daniel came in contact with classical music, jazz, and the music of Latin-American composers. Years later he graduated from the National School of Music receiving a degree of classical pianist and professor. All of this allows Daniel to have a unique and authentic style where fusion between the formal elements of structure, the balance of classical music and the freedom of harmonies and styles of jazz reminding us of Oscar Peterson or Art Tatum among others. Nevertheless, his music is wholly dedicated to the main genres of Cuban music such as Son, Changüi, Guaguanco, and Danzón. Even though Daniel is influenced by contemporary music, his style is genuinely based on the roots of Cuban music thus creating a unique and authentic musical language.

Daniel has pursued his career internationally, appearing in prestigious venues throughout Europe, Latin America. His debut CD “El piano que llevo dentro” (The Piano Inside of Me) received the 2005 Cubadisco prize in the Instrumental music category. Currently, Daniel resides in Málaga, Spain, where the critics describe him as "one of the great pianists of universal jazz."

Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

2x Grammy Award Winner

A musical multi-linguist 2014 GRAMMY® Award Winner and 2016 GRAMMY® Nominated Percussionist Christian Pepin is a versatile musician that embodies the soul of a percussionist that inherently stirs the human spirit. From his supersonic slaps to the thunderous open tones and heavy hitting bass notes, the young Christian Pepin shows perceptiveness and adoration for Latin and World music. His keen sense, gifted interpretation of music, and the influence of the New York streets have allowed Christian to translate his bliss. Whether it be on the stage or set to Avant-garde Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz, he can make his drums speak fluently to any listener.

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. All musical icons and legends in their own right. Music breathes life into the soul of Christian Pepin that sustains him as a musician

He moved to Spokane, WA from New York City with his family during his teenage years and continued his studies. He learned to improvise many styles such as Rumba, which helped shape and develop Christian's melodic, versatile, and danceable sound.

In 2001, Christian moved to Seattle where he continued to develop his unique sound as well as a strong following. During that time, he excelled in Marching Band and went on to play all instruments in the Battery, also known as the 'Drum Line'. Christian fell in love with a third bass drum for its complex and challenging odd time. Later In mid-2005, he was asked to join the Cascade Marching Band touring all over the U.S.

In 2008, he started touring with many Latin, World, Rock and R&B artist where he began to develop a very versatile style of playing. Being able to adjust to many types of situations playing each with class and sophistication. In 2012, Christian moved to San Francisco where he was asked to fly down to record the Grammy Winning album entitled "PMO" Pacific Mambo Orchestra.

Since then, he has and continues to tour all over the world. He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of Poncho Sanchez, Tommy Igoe, Nestor Torres, Pete Escovedo, Steve Turre, Sheila E. as well as the likes of other Latin artist such as Roberto Roena, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Tito Nieves, Michael Stuart and many other artists.

Booking Inquiries:

Luis R. Mendoza
Montuno Productions
Tel. (510) 586-3215

“Bululú features a multi-talented team of San Francisco Bay Area artists from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds that bring a wealth of sensibilities and ‘sabor’ to the project.”—Lali Mejia.

Gladys “Bobi” Céspedes has been at the forefront of representing and promoting Cuban music in the Bay Area and the United States for over 40 years. Bobi’s music integrates Cuban folkloric and modern elements in an authentic and distinctive sound. Her resonant voice and dynamic stage presence lead audiences on a journey from Yoruba incantations to the Cuban son. She can belt out a rumba or move you to tears through a heart wrenching rendition of a classic bolero. Along the way she shares her narratives of family life and love, and the wisdom of Afro Cuban fables. Always present is her chambo—that vibrant Cuban soul–resilient and creative.

A vocalist in the Cuban son tradition, composer, band leader and educator, Bobi first won international recognition as director and lead singer for Conjunto Céspedes. The band was recognized as an early exponent of world music for their unique approach to Cuban dance music, incorporating jazz elements and folkloric idioms with the Cuban son. With them she recorded 4 albums, including Una Sola Casa and Vivito Y Coleando which won awards for Latin Album of the Year in 1993 and 1995 from the National Association of Independent Records Distribution (NAIRD).  Conjunto Céspedes toured nationally and internationally, winning raving reviews in every major city where they performed, and opening for such notable stars as Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ruben Blades, El Gran Combo, Los Van Van  and Brian Ferry. 

Bobi gained a wider audience touring and recording with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum and Bembé Orisha projects,  appearing on his Supralingua and Spirit into Sound releases. 

Since 2003, working in a septet format, Bobi has continued to perform and tour, and recorded two albums under her own name: Rezos on Six Degree Records, and Patakin on VL Sounds. Rezos, a blend of Cuban son and electronic beats, included the track “Awoyo,” a composition featured in season 4 of the smash Showtime series Dexter.  (Other film credits include Les Blank’s Sworn to the Drum, and Peter Bratt’s, Follow Me Home.  Her recording with Conjunto Céspedes, Na’ Ni Na’,  was part of the soundtrack for the 2006 film Half Nelson).  Bobi is proud to have been invited to perform at the Freedom Sounds Celebration for the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in September 2016, sharing the bill with such illustrious world music divas as Angélique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello.

An offspring of a large Cuban musical family that kept alive African beliefs and practices and Lucumí priestess for over 50 years, Bobi has played an essential role in bringing Afro-Cuban rhythms and rituals to the Bay Area for nearly half a century. By providing fresh ways for contemporary audiences to be touched by Cuban music, she furthers the legacy of the great soneras, Celia Cruz and Omara Portuondo.  “Ms Cespedes’ voice is supreme: powerful, full of strength, even when she whispers…” (Descarga.com). In the rich field of Cuban music, Bobi Céspedes stands out as a gem and can rightfully be considered one of our national cultural treasures.

Bobi Céspedes’ electrifying ensemble features some of the Bay area’s finest Latin Jazz musicians:  Musical director, Marco Díaz on piano, trumpet and vocals; bassist Ernesto Mazar Kindelán; conguero Javier Navarrette; Julio Pérez on bongos and percussion; José Roberto Hernández on guitar and vocals; and Lichi Fuentes on vocals, chekeré, and güiro.

Booking inquiries:
Tel. (510) 586-3215 (call or text)

The VibraSÓN band was formed in mid-2013 to fulfill a long yearning of its leader Jake Jacobs, an accomplished salsa dancer and instructor for over 20 years to bring some of the greatest dance music back into the live music scene

Silvestre Martinez was born in Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico. He grew up in a large family of musicians, who played chilena, merequetengue and charanga music, which is Afro-Mexican music from the coast.

Some musicians dream of someday becoming accomplished enough to become professionals; some professionals dream of someday being nominated for a Grammy award. Julius Meléndez has done both… and has not only been nominated for a Grammy, but has won multiple Grammys.