Formed in 1999, West End Mambo is comprised of musicians from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. The band performs a fiery mix of classic salsa from bolero and rumbas to guaracha and son montuno. Their repertoire includes original orchestral salsa arrangements which they have performed with the Winston-Salem and Greensboro Symphonies.
Experience the energy and spirit of West End Mambo!
Instrumentation:
(Bass, Piano, Vocals, Arranger, Musical Director)
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Born 1962 in Nicaragua, Cesar graduated from the National Conservatory of Music and began his musical career in the city of Managua as a bass player with the jazz fusion band Praxis.
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Playing different styles including Brazilian, Rock, Flamenco and Latin American Folk, he performed in the Havana Cuba Jazz Festival and the UCLA in Lima, Peru in 1987.
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Won first prize in the Festival de la Juventud.
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Music Adviser for The Nicaraguan National Television Systems Network for three years
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Composed, arranged and played for the OTI Nicaraguan Festival.
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Produced, played and recorded with Latin Caribbean -Reggae, Salsa, Cuban and Merengue bands in Miami.
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Toured with Soul Vibes
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Played Mexican music in California
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Musical Director of Tropical Splash in Las Vegas.
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In 1997, he spent four months playing Jazz in Japan.
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Cesar is currently producing his own music as well as arranging, playing bass and piano with West End Mambo. He also leads the original Latin Rock band Braco.
Atiba Rorie
(congas and backup vocals)
- Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Studied with Babatunde Olatunji, Fahali Igbo, Bradley Simmons, Chief Bey, and The National Dance Ensemble of Ghana in Accra, Ghana and Guinea, West Africa.
- Currently teaching at Guilford College in the Music Department
- Accompanist in the UNC Greensboro Dance Department and the American Dance Festival in Durham.
- Performed with various professional ensembles that include performances for Dance Africa in New York, National Black Arts Festival, Black Dance USA, and two Presidential Inauguration Celebrations.
- 2005 Rorie participated in a Drums of Passion Tribute to Babatunde Olatunji at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference
- Guest artist at CaldCluegh Community Center, Agnes Scott College, Williams College, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Radford University.
(Saxophones, Arranger, Bandleader)
- Steve studied with woodwind maestro Joseph Viola and is a graduate of the Berklee School of Music.
- His 25 year career includes live performances with R&B artists including The Four Tops and The Temptations.
- He performed at the Brevard Jazz Festival with The Matt Kendrick Unit, sharing the bill with the Yellowjackets and Kenny Garret.
- He appears on recordings with the Matt Kendrick Unit, the Alan Neese Quintet and the Joe Robinson Group.
- Steve is an accomplished writer, arranger and recording engineer, producing numerous successful independent releases for regional artists.
(Vocals & percussion)
- Vocalist, song writer and percussionist Sendy Mendez has been performing in the Carolinas since 1994.
- Lead singer for regional bands Impacto, A Sign of the Time, Orquesta Mayor, Ultima Nota and West End Mambo.
- Performs in both Spanish and English as well as multiple genres including salsa, merengue, bachata, pop, rock, and boleros.
Ramon Ortiz
(Timbales, congas, bongos and backup vocals)
- Studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (Dominican Republic) and Universite du Quebec a Montreal (Canada)
- Performed with Joaquin Diaz (www.joaquindiaz.com), Diouf - of Senegal and Sandra & the Latin Groove (www.sandralatingroove.com)
- Toured Europe, Canada & Mexico
Dr. Christian McIvor
(Trumpet)
- Based in Greensboro, NC, trumpeter Christian McIvor is a member of Market Street Brass, a brass quintet that regularly performs throughout the eastern United States.
- Lead trumpet for West End Mambo and the Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra.
- Soloist and section player performing with the North Carolina Brass Band, the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, theater pit orchestras and universities throughout North Carolina.
- Minister of Music & Worship at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro.
Dr. James Armstrong
(Trumpet)
- Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Winston-Salem State University.
- University Master of Music Education degree from Jackson State University.
- Currently Associate Band Director at UNC-Greensboro..
- Teaches applied trumpet as well as jazz and brass ensembles at Winston-Salem State University.
- Member of the International Association of Jazz Educators and the North Carolina Music Educators Association.
Marcelo Falconi
(Bass & Guitar)
- Marcelo is a guitar player/artist from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- Bachelors degree in Guitar Performance from Berklee College of Music.
- 2004 worked with Grammy Award winner producer/ engineer Glen Kolotkin, and was sponsored to stay in the US by Golden Dome records in Lauderhill, FL.
- Performed in the Vegas production show, Legends in Concert, at the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida and became a touring musician for the same production, traveling all over the US, In 2008 he joined the main cast in Las Vegas, NV where he worked for six years.
- Father of two children, Maria, and Marcelo and currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he plays locally, teaches, and continues to produce his original music out of his home studio. As a hired composer Marcelo Falconi offers music for advertising and audio logos for brands, as well as band production and arrangements.
