YESKA

Bio:

The pride of L.A's Eastside Yeska - who began as a haphazardly formed ensemble for a high school talent show, is on the melodic move, so be warned.
With the release on Aztlan Records of their premier cd -- SKAFROCUBANJAZZ -- Yeska debuts on the global scene with their expanded world beat. Rooted in Cuban Jazz and Jamaican Ska, these young musicians honed the vibrant styles of their native Los Angeles for a modern if not revolutionary new sound. Part ska? Part jazz? Yes.
Yeska cordially invites the ska fan, the jazz fan and the world beat crowd to get busy to the delicious, tight horns of Seth Zwerling - trumpet, David Urquidi - saxophones (who is currently playing for latin jazz great, Poncho Sanchez), Sheffer Bruton - trombone (currently with Ozomatli), the rock-steady guitar riffs of Joey Kraut and the full-funk of bassist Jose Esquivel. Welcome as well, the piano wonder Walter Miranda (who is drumming live with Monterrey's Plastilina Mosh), drum-god Alfredo Ortiz (who has toured the world with such bands as The Beastie Boys and The Offspring) and guest musician, conguero, Giovanni Valdes.
The young, upcoming musicians in Yeska have come very far in a short span of time. With their origins rooted in the East L.A. music scene, the band broke both music and cultural barriers by being the first of their kind, L.A. Latin-hip kids, to play Hollywood venues such as Luna Park, The Viper Room and the Dragonfly.
Since then, Yeska has conquered every major venue in Los Angeles including the prestigious House of Blues and Universal Amphitheater.
While opening for such acts a Tito Puente, WAR, Celia Cruz, Hepcat, Let's go Bowling and The Cherry Poppin' Daddies.
Yeska was called upon by "Hollywood" when the Showtime Channel used the cut "Fideo" as the theme song of the Latino Laugh Festival, hosted by Cheech Marin.
SKAFROCUBANJAZZ is Yeska's eloquent and original contribution to today's Latinization of ska. Ska originated in Jamaica in the early '60's, immigrants carried the 2nd wave of the genre to England in the '70s, the 3rd wave introduced ska to the United States in the '80s, the 4th wave (or "4th Generation" as Yeska entitles the second track on SKAFROCUBANJAZZ) is today's fusion of ska with a distinctly Latin lyrical and musical flavor.

Member Since:

October 14, 2005

Members:

WALTER MIRANDA~PIANO

DAVID URQUIDI~ALTO SAX

ALFREDO ORTIZ~DRUMS•TIMBALES

JOSE ESQUIVEL~BASS

JOEY KRAUT~GUITAR•TRES

SETH ZWERLING~TRUMPET

Yeska Alumni:

John Felix!! (old school yeska 92-93) - Guitar

Jose "Crunchy" Espinosa (ozo/De La Esquina) - sax

Steve "Skip" Vasquez (old school Yeska) - Bass/Keyboard

Ben Morales (old school Yeska) - Vocals

Pablo Tovar (old school Yeska) - Bass

Alvaro Tovar (old school Yeska) - Trumpet

Sarafin Aguilar (Poncho Sanchez) - Trumpet

Sheffer Bruton (ozo) - Trombone

Luca Brandoli- Congas

Mark Velasquez - Guitar

Ulises Bella (ozo) - Sax

Danny "Pegion Chest" Lopez (old school Yeska) - Trombone/Guitar

Otto - Trombone

Clinton Cameron (Fishbone) - Drums/Timbales

Anton Morales (Herbal Influence) - Drums

Giovanni Valdez - Trumpet/Conga

Gonzalo "Chalo" Chomat (Chalo Y Su Ache) - Vocals on 'The CoverUp'

Cisco Huete (Burning Star) - Congas

Long John Oliva - REST IN PEACE - Congas

Adam Topol (Jack Johnson) - Drums

Danny Balancio - Trombone

Nadir Jevanjee (he was the steady drummer after you) - Drums

Willie McNeil (Sono-Lux) - Drums

Shaunte Palmer - Trombone

Zac Rae (he was the steady guy after Walter...alanis morsette, macy grey) - piano

Estani (Joan Sebastian) - vocals

Influences:

Tito Puente
Mr. Simon Austin
The Skatalites
Eddie Palmieri
Bobby Bradford
Bad Brains
Ocean 11
Hepcat
Bobby Matos
Fugazi
Poncho Sanchez
Desmond Dekker
Aswad
The Specials
Mobb Deep
The Sundays
The Shantys
King Tubby
Chick Korea
El Chicano
Mobtown
Irie Beats
Benny Moré
Cachao
Black Flag
Cubanismo
Jump with Joey
Mento buru
The Dynamics
Monty Alexander
Celia Cruz
Malo
Los Van Van
Johnny Chingas
Thee In-crowd...

Sounds Like:

~SKAFROCUBANJAZZ~

Check out some write-ups and reviews

www.latinovision.com

www.steadybeat.com

www.onthatnote.com/sxsw98.htm

Record Label:

Aztlan Records