Yrving Yeras (Violin, Vocals, Minor Percussion, Recorder,
Charango)
Born in 1973 in Santa Clara, Cuba, Yrving was always a
precocious youngster. He showed an affinity for music as a
toddler and began studying music at age 6. By the time he
was 14 he was playing professionally in the Santa Clara
Symphonic Orchestra - the youngest musician ever hired to
play professionally in the orchestra.- where he remained for 8
years, eventually attaining a principal chair.
He later expanded his musicianship into popular music,
playing in the “Orquesta Charanga Oro Verde,” a group
comprised primarily of young musicians who regularly took
first prize in festivals and competitions all over the island. He
also enjoyed the privilege of accompanying the legendary
Omara Portuondo during his tenure with that band.
Later he formed his own group, Alma Latina., a fearless and
versatile trio that incorporated many diverse Latin American
styles and rhythms in its original arrangements and enjoyed
success touring in Cuba and Europe, playing in Germany,
Belgium, Holland, Costa Rica, Panama and many other
countries as ambassadors of traditional music. While in
Cuba, Alma Latina also recorded a self-titled album which
showcased the group’s inimitable swing.
In 1999, Yrving immigrated to the United States seeking
freedom of political and personal expression. He moved to
New York and immediately made a name for himself, playing
with the renowned bands Fajardo Y Sus Estellas, Chico
Alvarez y Palomonte, Orquesta Novel, Orquesta Broadway,
Orquesta Siglo XX, and many others. During that time he
was also a much sought-after session violinist and recorded
with Africando, SonSublime, Johnny Ray y Salsa con Clase,
and Ray Santiago. Not content with these accomplishments,
Yrving has created the Orquesta Charanga YeraSon, which
performs regularly in Manhattan. He continues to expand
upon his considerable abilities as a violinist and also plays
charango, tres, recorder and percussion. Yrving is a gifted
composer and arranger and teaches violin at the Boys and
Girls Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts. He is also
the exclusive luthier for the violin divisions of The Harbor
Conservatory and the Greenwich House Music School.
Alex Fernandez Fox ( Tres, Vocals , Percusion , Piano)
Born in New York City of Cuban parents, Alex began his
musical trainingat age 4, studying piano and music theory
with private instructors. When he was 7 he took up guitar
lessons at the Queensboro Institute ofMusic and at 13 he
enrolled in the Certificate Program at the Mannes College of
Music in Manhattan, completing a curriculum which included
classical guitar, ensemble studies, theory, ear training and
electronic music. At Mannes Alex received his first exposure
to jazz from instructor and percussionist Norman Grossman.
He began experimenting in jazz and Latin styles, and later
formed The Adam Irizarry Trio, playing electric and upright
bass with pianist Adam Irizarry and drummer Tony Jimenez.
The trio played extensively for several years under that
name and also as TransFusion, an electric and more eclectic
version of the group.
Alex graduated from Duke University in 1994, where he
played piano in the Duke Jazz Ensemble under director Paul
Jeffrey, and earned a law degree from Georgetown
University in 1997. Upon moving back to New York he spent
several years working in diverse practice areas of the law.
In 1999 Alex studied guitar and tres at the Escuela Nacional
de Arte in Havana. Soon after returning to New York he
joined the New York charanga orchestra SonSublime, with
whom he recorded two albums, "Irresistible" and "Gran
Reserva," as tres player, vocalist, arranger and musical
director. Not long afterwards he began playing tres with
various other New York groups in traditional and modern
genres,eventually forming his own Cuban son group,
KfeKonLeche, with vocalist Pedro More and joining the Latin
alternative rock band Eljuri, which uses classic rock rhythms
and Afro-Cuban grooves.
Lisa Crowder (Violin, Viola, Accordion, Piano)
Born in Washington D.C. to Japanese and American
parents. Lisa is a classically trained musician who studied at
Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, and was a
scholarship recipient at the Manhattan School of Music
where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Music
performance. She has appeared in concerts throughout New
York as both soloist and chamber musician and has worked
with a diverse array of composers from classical to electronic
music.
Lisa has performed on piano and violin with flamenco groups
Flamenco Latino, Helena Andujar, Chuscales, Christian
Puig, and Jorge Navarro. She has also played and recorded
with the charanga SonSublime, and has performed at
venues in New York City and throughout the country
including several concerts in Washington, D.C., the Brooklyn
Museum, Alegrias, and the premier of Picasso's "Las Cuatro
Ninitas" at the Thalia Theater. When not performing, Lisa is
a member of the piano faculty at the Greenwich House Music
School.
Hector Torres (Bongoes, Timbales, Vocals)
Born in San German, Puerto Rico and grew up in Manhattan’
s Chelsea neighborhood. He began playing percussion at
the age of four and received his tutelage from family
members who played strings, percussion and sang. From
this rich experience he has gone on to play timbales with
Ray Barretto, Sunrise, Orquesta Novedades, Conjunto
Mayombe, Chico Alvarez, Grupo Caché, Conjunto Naborí,
José Fajardo, The Moonrats, Rey Saba, Charanga
Creación, Fuego ‘77, and Orquesta La Sorpresa, among
many others.
Mauricio Smith JR (flute & sax)
Born in Panama and residing in New York City. At age 15
he was already a sensation with his Flute, studied music at
the National Conservatory of Panama, and also studied with
some great musicians/composers like: Professor Eduardo
Charpentier, Roberto Pitre, Mauricio Smith Senior and many
others. His influence in music and the flute was from his
mentor and father, who gave him the teaching and the
guidance to playing, but the passion and energy has
developed on his own, which can be proven by the style and
performance.
Dedicated to the public and listeners, his performance are
never the same, because he is always trying to out perform
himself. Mauricio, has played as a soloist, at the National
Conservatory of Music of Panama, played with the National
Guard of Panama Band ("Once de Octubre"), "Orquesta de
Camara - Clarinon", Caribbean Sound, Orquesta de Toby
Munoz, Orquesta del Profesor Edgardo Quintero, Orquesta
Novel.
Nelson (Skello) Rojas (Congas, Vocals)
Skello was born in Puerto Rico grew up in New York City,
jamming on drums as a kid with his step-brother's rock band
in Coney Island before he fell in love with Latin music. While
playing one night at "The Corso" nightclub, he met Nicky
Marrero and became one of his students. Skello would
spend a lot of time with Nicky, learning from him and
carrying his gear, until becoming a band boy with
TIPICA'73. In that environment he was able to learn from
Latin greats like Johnny Rodriguez and Joe Grajales, and
before long he was being recommended for gigs to the likes
of Tito Puente, Machito, Hector Lavoe, Conjunto Libre,
Bobby Capo, Ralph McDonald, David Am ram, Ralphy Santi
, Johnny Pacheco, Hector Casanova and Charlie
Rodriguez. After rehearsing with Fania All-stars and Tico
Allegre All-stars, Skello went on to record with Carlos
Carvajal y su Colombian All-stars 1977 and joined the
legendary Jose Fajardo y Sus Estrellas, with whom he
stayed until 1985. That year he suffered a terrible accident
and lost the use of his left hand; his doctors told him he
would never be able to play again, but Skello refused to
accept that and immediately started working at rehabilitating
his hand. By 1990 he was playing again, this time with
groups like Javier Vasquez y su Sonora, Johnny Rivera,
Ernie Acevedo y Conjunto Imagen, and the new Fajardo Y
Sus Estrellas, led by Jose Fajardo's son, Armando. Skello
is happy to be playing again, and is particularly excited
about his latest and greatest adventure: YERASON! We
are fortunate to have such a dedicated and hard-working
musician on congas, and everyone in the group draws
inspiration from Skello's personal philosophy: Life is Music,
and Music is Life.
Marino Solano (Bass) - On May 23, 2007, our beloved
friend and fellow musician Marino Solano passed away.
He was a founding member of YeraSon and we dedicate
every performance in his memory, may he rest in peace.
Marino was born in the Dominican Republic. He is the a
true Latin music veteran, having begun his professional
career at the tender age of 11. He has played with El
Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Rafael Cortijo, Primitivo
Santos, Charanga De La 4, Conjunto Modelo, Orquestra
Broadway, Orquesta Novel, Jose Fajardo and countless
others. Throughout his decades-long career he has both
played and recorded with just about every distinguished
group in the country.
Lewis Kahn (Trombone & Violin)
Based in New York, Lewis Kahn Has Been Working as a
trombonist and violinist since the late sixties.
After studying at the Eastmanand and Julliard schools of
music he went on to perform worldwide in a variety of
musical styles. Some of the artist he has performed and
recorded whith, include: Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Celia
Cruz, Phylis Hyman, Janis Ian, David Byrne, Machito,
Ruben Blades, Willy Colon, Hector Lavoe, Charlie & Eddie
Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco and Marc Anthony.
Conal Fowkes (Bass,Piano, Vocals)
Born in Zambia and raised in England, moved to New York
in 1996 and has been in constant demand as a pianist,
bassist and arranger in diverse styles of music. He is a
graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and has
studied with Cuban piano masters Chucho Valdes and
Marco Rizo. In addition to playing with YeraSon, Conal is
a member of the acclaimed groups Los Soneros de
Oriente, the Woody Allen Jazz Band, Orange Kellin's New
Orleans Serenaders and the Manhattan Ragtime
Orchestra, and also performs regularly as pianist for
movie-star-turned-crooner Danny Aiello. Conal has
performed at premiere venues all over the world, including
the Montreaux Jazz Festival, London's Royal Festival Hall
in London, the Kennedy Center and New York's Blue Note
and Lincoln Center. This exceptional artist has performed
with Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, Adalberto
Santiago, Henry Fiol, Johnny Pacheco, Bette Midler,
Patato Valdes, Enrique Pla and a host of others. He has
also been featured on Broadway ("One Mo' Time"), on the
radio (Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion") and
in film ( Finding Forrester, Ghost World, Madame
Suzatska, The Aviator). Roberta Pla's Right On Time, Los
Soneros de Oriente's A Las Orishas, Hanny's The Voice
of Cuba and Soul Station's Congalegre are among
Conal's extensive recording credits. He has began
playing bass and piano with YeraSon since 2004, and has
been reluctantly dubbed "El Loco De Leicester."
Ckiemi Nakai(Piano)
A native of Japan, Chiemi Nakai studied classical piano
early in life, and soon began to explore Jazz. In 1988, while
living in Osaka, Japan, she started performing Jazz,
Brazilian music and Salsa. Her talent was soon recognized
by the great drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath(ds) with whom
she toured in 1992. In 1993, she began to play with
Mamborama, which was the premier Latin Jazz & Salsa
group in Osaka, leaded by Yoshi Yamada(b), and
recorded on their album “Japonismo”(1997). In Japan, she
has performed with such leading Jazz & Latin musicians as
Chie Ayado(vo), Carlos Kanno (perc. ex-leader of
Orquesta de la Luz), Gen Ogimi(perc.), etc… In 1998, Ms.
Nakai moved to NYC in 1998 to future develop her musical
career. In 2000, entered Queens College to study for big
band arrangement under Michael Phillip Mossman(tp), and
also took lessons under Sir Roland Hanna(p). In 2002, she
joined the Jimmy Bosch(tb) band and toured France, Italy,
Holland, and Slovenia, and also performed with New York
All Stars Band, including Giovanni Hidalgo(congas), Dave
Valentine(fl), Jose Alberto “El Canario“(vo) and Alfred de
la Fe(violin). Ms.Nakai performed at “The Cuban Mission”,
a collaboration between Juan Carlos Formell(b), and the
Afro-Cuban folk band OMI ODARA, at the Jazz Standard in
December 2003, and March 2004. Also in 2005, she
joined Jimmy’s tour to Canada and Holland. She currently
performs with Jimmy Bosch(tb) y su Salsa Dura, Dave
Santiago & Latin Affair (Salsa), Los Mas Valientes (Latin
Jazz), Heavy Merge (R&B, Funk, Acid Jazz), Yukako(Jazz
vocal), La Maquina Amarilla (Cuban son) etc… Now she
mainly performs with her own group, “Chiemi Nakai and
her Afro-Cuban Jazz Project” at various clubs in NYC such
as Europa Club, Blue Note, Willie’s Steak House, Club
Twenty, Nuyorican poet Cafe' and so on. On May 2002,
she graduated Queens College/M.A. Jazz Performance.
