gumbi Ortiz
(gumbi Ortiz)

Bio:
World renown percussionist Gumbi Ortiz best known for his many years playing with superstar guitarists Al Di Meola, has achieve world wide recognition as one of the most exciting and knowledgeable congeros around! Ortiz whose parents immigrated to America in the '50's .... was raised in what they called Latin New York! (the south bronx!) He spoke no English until grammar school in the early '60's! His early influences were the ritual drumming of the Santeria ceremony at his parents New York apartment, from their Ortiz was hooked on his afro-cuban heritage. Taking his cue from his parents Ortiz started playing with Latin bands at the early age of 11, bringing with him the knowledge of the West African drumming tradions that came from Nigeria to Cuba then to New York! Ortiz started playing with all the great Latin bands in and around New York City .... Ortiz was also in demand as a session player working with many of today's superstars! But as fate would have it, Ortiz moved to Florida at an early age to be with his newly immigrated family from Cuba (during the Mariel boat lift of the 1980's) he settle there and stared to perform with many of the Cuban acts in Florida! Ortiz took a break from his demanding Florida schedule and went to Paris in 1986,there he went to an Al Di Meola concert and left with out meeting the guitarist! Back in the states, a year to the date he saw di meola in Paris, Di Meola walked on Ortiz's show in Florida! When Al saw Ortiz' play it was magic from that day on! Ortiz was hired on the spot to play congas with the guitar great! Two days later he was in front of thousand people in Turkey, from then the two have traveled the world performing! In the late 90's Ortiz itching to play Cuban music, created the Latino Projekt, the band was Ortiz's way of blending his love for Cuban street music (aka rumba) and his love for the Cuban Son, also the new Cuban music known as Timba (a sound made popular buy Cuban groups like los Van Van) the band, with Hector Mayoral on vocals Rolando Olan on vocals and percussion also Kenny Walker Masqueanda on bass Carlos Ocasio on Cuban flute, Johnny Z on drums and Obell Ruiz on keyboards.... Ortiz's vision of keeping his Cuban heritage intact in the new world lives!

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