Formed in 1999, West End Mambo is comprised of musicians from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. This nine piece 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)
-
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.
-
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.
-
Won first prize in the Festival de la Juventud.
-
Music Adviser for The Nicaraguan National Television Systems Network for three years
-
Composed, arranged and played for the OTI Nicaraguan Festival.
-
Produced, played and recorded with Latin Caribbean -Reggae, Salsa, Cuban and Merengue bands in Miami.
-
Toured with Soul Vibes
-
Played Mexican music in California
-
Musical Director of Tropical Splash in Las Vegas.
-
In 1997, he spent four months playing Jazz in Japan.
-
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 & guitar)
- Born in Colombia in 1976. Oscar graduated from the Universidad Industrial de Santander in Colombia with a degree in music education, serving as director and arranger of vocal and instrumental groups in Bucaramanga and Bogota. He participated in national folk music festivals, performing Latin music and jazz standards.
- Arrived in North Carolina in 2011 and is currently teaching and playing acoustic and classical guitar, tiple (Colombian folk instrument of strings) and piano. He is an outstanding lead vocalist performing with the Caribe Son Trio as well as the West End Mambo orchestra.
Tim Singh
(Bass)
- Originally from New York City, Tim performs regularly in cities along the east coast.
- Performances include Salsa artists N’Klabe, Jerry Rivera, Maelo Ruiz, and Oswaldo Roman of Puerto Rican Power.
- Ever the eclectic, you can catch Tim playing all types of music from Jazz to Country, and of course, Salsa with West End Mambo.
Ramone 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
Alberto Carrasquillo
(Trumpet)
- Lead trumpeter, performing Salsa, classical and Jazz styles at regional venues including the Carolina Theater, Meymandi Concert Hall, and TWC Music Pavilion.
- Performed with well known Salsa and Merengue bands Bobby Valentín, Willie Rosario, Toño Rosario, Rubby Hadock, Pete and Conde Rodriguez while living in Puerto Rico.
- Music studies include the State University of Puerto Rico and North Carolina Central University.
- Plays regularly with North Carolina bands Carnavalito, Orquesta GarDel, West End Mambo, Orquesta Kache and Caribe Vibe.
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.
