FOLLOW YOUR PASSION MUSIC IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR EVERYTHING
BONGOBRUNO.COM JOIN AND BECOME PART OF OUR MUSICAL FAMILY
THE BAND
Embrace Your Passion
BONGO BRUNO`S FUNKY JAZZ CARAVAN first emerged in the mid 90`s bringing down the house at venues such as MO`BETTER , HONEY SUCKLE and BABINGTONS under the original name THE LATIN JAZZ CARAVAN. For the past twenty years the CARAVAN has been traveling far and wide, making it`s most recent homes at LILLIE`S TIMES SQUARE, LILLIE`S UNION SQUARE and PAPILLON and most currently at KELLARI in NEW YORK CITY and LEFKES in ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS NEW JERSEY Over the years the CARAVAN members have come and gone. The original members: Ismael "BONGO" Bruno, founder and leader of the band on percussion, Donald "SPIDER" Nicks on bass, Barry Olsen on piano and trombone, Vince Cherrico on drums have been the nucleus for many years. Currently the only remaining original members are Donald "SPIDER" Nicks, Barry Olsen and of course Ismael "BONGO" Bruno, as well as the new members such as Stella Guerra on English and Spanish female vocals Solomon " KING" Hicks on guitar and English male vocals, Keith "CAPTAIN" Gamble guitar/ harmonica/ English vocals, Jerome Croswell on trumpet and percussion English/Spanish vocals, Robert Aaron tenor sax, and on special occasions our newest additions are German Gonzalez on guitar, Richie Robles on bass/vocals, Joel Cruz on alto sax/ vocals, Fred Walcot on Congas and percussion /who bring a unique flavor to the band. The most active members presently are JOEL CRUZ on SAX and VOCALS, NOAH BLISS on TROMBONE, STEVE GLUZBAND on TRUMPET, KING SOLOMAN HICKS on GUITAR and VOCALS, DONALD NICKS on BASS, MARCUS PERSIANI on PIANO, FRED WALCOT on CONGAS and PERCUSSION, TANIA -DIAZ -FLORES on VOCALS, AND THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR BAND IS MISS KATHRYN FARMER on LEAD VOCALS. BAND LEADER: ISMAEL BONGO BRUNO on TIMBALES,CONGAS ,BONGOS and VOCALS
THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF THE FUNKY JAZZ CARAVAN ARE IT``S CHEMISTRY, BAND MEMBER`S EXPERIENCE, SPONTANEITY VERSATILITY ,IMPROVISATIONAL STYLE, AND IT’S INTERACTIVE FUN WHICH IS WHAT KEEPS THE AUDIENCES COMING BACK FOR MORE
ISMAEL BONGO BRUNO THE LATIN FROM MANHATTAN
Ismael Bongo Bruno
Born and raised in the New York City Upper West Side Self taught started at age 9 influenced by my father whom had a big collection of vinyl records music from all over the world but was a more of a musicologist never played but, was well versed in all genres of musics. I had an uncle from my moms side whom was a Conga player and performed with many famous Latin vocalist which gave me my first Conga drum lesson by teaching me the universal rhythm called the Tumbao. He only once then showed me some basic folklore rhythms of different countries and the rest was me listening and studying and playing along with all the records my dad had from every part of the planet and the rest is history. so now I have 54 years experience as a Percussionist in all musical styles . Godson to the late great "CARLOS "PATATO" VALDEZ" I am a Member of the Sons Of Legends Band with TITO PUENTE JR. and Presently Band Leader of BONGO BRUNO's FUNKY JAZZ CARAVAN Performing " LATIN SOUL, JAZZ, FUNK, BLUES,POP in the Greater New York Area and abroad. 8 Ball Record underground disco music The Tribal Series With Fred Jorio , Extravaganza , Sextraveganza , Dream Drums , Lil Louis’s Club Lonely , Live Recording with the late Miles Davis at “the Cellar Bar Restaurant” West 95st Columbus Ave NYC in the 80’s, Performed with Shaka Kan at the Original China Club Broadway and 74th St. NYC Next to the famous Beacon Theater NYC as well as
Roy Aires , Pucho and the Latin Soul Brothers ,The Spanish Rocketship Band with Buster Poindexter 'David JoHanson' Wy Clef Jon Tito Puente Jr. Sons of Legends Band and many many more renowned artist.
Contact Us
BONGOBRUNO.COM
100 West 31st Street, New York City, NY 10001, US
