Los Hombres Calientes

If you love exciting, sensual, danceable jazz, you have arrived. Welcome to the world of the Hombres y mujeres who follow the beat of a different drummer. Welcome to this musical paradise.

words on LHC

Los Hombres Calientes ”hot men” was conceived and brought to fruition in 1998 at the Summer Multi Ethnic Institute of Arts in New Orleans , LA. All of my groups have had the recurring universal theme of ethnic diversity and heat. Los Hombres Calientes is one of the stepping stones on my journey to achieve my objective.
 
Los Hombres Calientes is an extension of me and an original concept of what I feel a band should be. This goes back to my days with Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins and others who were my mentors and helped to establish my foundation in this business.
 
The world is a busy place musically. My first band, Summers Heat, encompassed a variety of musical styles. I like to say that the music bridged the gap from  Africa to Hollywood , infused with the sounds and pulsations of all the indigenous people in between them.
 
My background dictates my actions. I was formally trained on the classical piano from the ages of 6 years old to 16 at the Detroit and Michigan Conservatory of Music. While studying at the Conservatory, I taught myself how to play the sax and flute. My knowledge of these instruments landed me my first paying gigs in and around the Detroit area. However, my true love was, and still is, drumming. I bought my first set of bongo drums at age 13 and studied the styles of Armando Peraza, Candido and Mongo Santamaria. Later, I concentrated on traditional West African drumming techniques.