Willy Calderon is a Colombian-American percussionist, record producer and mixing engineer at Willy Calderon Recordings and Sounds. He is the founder and director of The L.A. Impromptu Orchestra, a prestigious, Los Angeles based all-star project that boasts the integration of over 30 over the world’s most reputable musicians. He is also an official member of
NARAS, The Recording Academy / GRAMMYS®.

Willy came from a musical family and was raised in Los Angeles, California by his mother, Jeanine Rosales. A natural in the art of music since infancy, he started his professional career at the early age of 13. Specializing as a percussionist, Calderon is also  professionally adept in piano, bass, electronic instruments, record production, music arrangement and composition, which has made him a highly sought after record producer and composer as well.

Some of the artist’s extensive track record includes collaborations with Carlos Vives, Tony Succar, Guayacán, Fruko y Sus Tesos, Silvestre Dangond and Nintendo Co., Ltd, as well as frequenting as musical talent on various television shows like Bones, Jane the Virgin and America’s Got Talent, amongst many others.

Having amassed a musical following around the world due to his clean and
solid style of playing, musical knowledge and “conversational” soloing technique, the artist has repeatedly been invited to host percussion workshops and seminars in countries like Japan, Spain, China, Cuba, Colombia and the U.K.

Yasmane Santos graduated from the National School of Arts in Cuba. There, he’s worked with Manana Club, Dennis y su Swing, Habana All Stars, Dulce Habana and Urban Genre Chakal.  In 2010, Santos participated in the Festival of Drums, where he won 2nd place in the Conga category.

Santos has performed with The Groove 7 Band, featuring Carlos Cafe do Pandeiro.  He’s shared the stage with bands like Calypso from Brazil and Kassav from Guadalupe.  Yasmane currently lives in Angola, Africa, performing with many successful bands including Yola Semedo (Diva of the Angolan Song), Banda Maravilha, Filipe Mukenga, Gabriel Tchiema, Puto Portugues, Ricardo Lemvo, Eduardo Paim, Nsoki, Ary, Sandra Cordeiro, Kueno Aionda, Jack Nkanga, Toto, Dodo Miranda, Bangao, Don Caetano, Irina Vasconcelos, Ondaka yo Wimi, Selda, Paulo Flores, Toty Samed, Sandra Cordeiro, Nsoki, Pablo Flores, Don Caetano, Boy G Mendes and Lokua Kanza.  Santos has performed with one of the greats of Cuban song, Haila Maria Mompie on her tour in Luanda. He’s also a member of the band with Master Joaquim Betancourt in Angola and has worked with Mederic Colignon-French trumpeter and Frederik Lebeer, a Belgian pianist.  Yasmane has participated in several international festivals and has performed on several recordings of Angolan singers including Gabriel Tchiema, Filipe Mukenga, Dj Djeff, Kyaku Kiadaff and others.

Yasmane Santos has also participated in concerts of Classical music, accompanying the great opera singers of the Angolan music.  Currently, he is the percussion professor in the School of Music Training in Luanda, Angola, participating in cultural exchanges in Venezuela, the EEUU and also in Austria and has taught percussion workshops in various schools in Brazil and Argentina.  His Facebook page, Yasmane Santos Percussion has more than 4500 followers.

Luisito Quintero has worked and recorded with many of music’s legends including The Rolling Stones, Vanessa Williams, Paul Simon, Santana, Jack De Johnette, David Sanborn, George Benson, Joe Sample, Bill Cosby, the late Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Richard Bona, Ravi Coltrane, Nathalie Cole, Diana Krall, Giovanni Hidalgo, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Spanish Harlem, Willie Colon and countless others.  One of his recent projects finds him as musical director for Louie Vega and the Elements of Life Band, as well as extensive work with Jack DeJohnette’s Latin Project.  He has also had the privilege to tour and record with the Tony & Grammy award winning Jazz artist, Dee Dee Bridgewater.  Quintero himself has earned more than thirteen Grammy certificate awards for his participation in numerous recordings.

Luisito Quintero has two solo projects under Vega Records/BBE, entitled “Percussion Maddness” and “Percussion Maddness Revisited”.  Scheduled for release in the spring of 2013, his upcoming production entitled “3rd Element”, features guest artists Gato Barbieri, Oscar Hernandez, Doug Beavers, Richie Flores, Steve Khan, Reynaldo Jorge and his cousin Roberto Quintero.  Currently, Luisito is the touring & recording percussionist for the legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea and for Spanish Harlem.

As a producer & audio engineer, Dr. Benny Maldonado enjoys vision-casting projects with other artists and his students with the aim to create uncharted, heartfelt music. His equation of musical genres to a masterful puzzle-art mural compels him to search for the missing puzzle pieces of music that are yet to be placed within the mural of reconnoitered music. In 2015, Dr. Benny Maldonado helped his colleague, José Valentino, find one of the missing puzzle pieces of uncharted, heartfelt music, by serving as the percussionist and arranger for the album, José Valentino Ruiz & The Latin Jazz Ensemble featuring Giovanni Hidalgo: “I Make You Want To Move”, which received a 16th Annual Latin-GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. Throughout the years 2011-2016, Benny’s contributions to numerous albums with José Valentino – “A Walk With God”, “Ahora Más Que Nunca”, “The CrossMatch Vamp” – lead to being awarded 20 DownBeat Music Awards [the most prestigious jazz education competition] for the following categories: Best Jazz Group, Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group, Best Latin Group, Best Studio Engineered Recording, and Best Live Engineered Recording.

As a first-call percussionist, Dr. Benny Maldonado has performed and/or recorded with major Salsa/Latin jazz musical luminaries such as Dave Valentin, Cano Estremera, Eddie Santiago, Hector Tricoche, Roberto Roena, Brenda K Starr, Pete”El Conde” Rodriguez, Paquito Guzman, Quique Domenech, Nacho Sanabria, Lisette Melendez who is a well reknown Freestyle artist, Johnny Rivera, Tito Allen, Adalberto Santiago, Charlie Cruz, Nino Segarra, George Lamond, Luisito Carrion, Cheo Andújar, Hansel y Raul. He has performed timbales several times on television stations such as Telemundo, Univision, CBS, and NBC. In 2014, Dr. Benny Maldonado participated as an extra in the Hollywood featured film, “Sex Ed”, which was directed by Isaac Feder featuring Haley Joel Osment (from the movie “The Sixth Sense” and “Forest Gump”). As a uncanning educator and clinician, Dr. Benny Maldonado represents Soultone Cymbals.

In Florida, Dr. Benny Maldonado served as one of the percussionists for Trio CubaSon, which was the House Band for Emilio and Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Café in Disney Springs, Orlando. His performance trajectory includes having performed in over 800 gigs in dance venues, clubs, sweet sixteens, and corporate events. He is also the director of music education at The Simone Salsa Dance Studios in Tampa, Fl where he gives dynamic, collaborative applied-lessons in percussion studies and ensemble development to students of all ages. Additionally, his tenure as session-percussionist for Paris Recording Studio in Brandon, FL has allowed Dr. Benny Maldonado the opportunity to record percussion (i.e., timbales, congas, bongos, cowbell, guiro) for a plethora of albums and music videos of some of Florida’s, Puerto Rico’s, and New York’s top Salsa and Latin jazz acts. Benny also runs his own recording studio out of his home in Odessa, Florida called YnneBMusic Studio where he has recorded upcoming artists from all over the state of Florida reaching the from California all the way to New York and also reaching Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. When on the road, Dr. Benny Maldonado is also part of The Bay Kings Band which is one of the largest or the largest Band and Entertainment franchises in the United States where he gets to bring magic to every event from a wedding reception to all major corporations and private and public events on percussion/Drums/Back up vocals and just pure energy! He also performs with two Tribute Bands directed by Todd Plant called China Grove ( “Doobie Brothers Tribute”) and Supernatural Band (“Tribute to Carlos Santana”) on back up vocals and percussion – both ensembles travel nationally performing at numerous jazz, blues, and funk music festivals. Benny has also been a working member Pedro Bullady’s “Orquesta INFINIDAD” one of Tampa Bays longest salsa bands which is on their 30th year Anniversary with an upcoming album release mid 2020, check out the bands Holiday rendition of “A Christmas Song” where Benny arranged the percussion and recorded Timbales, Bongo, Bells, and minor percussion at his home studio, back up vocals as well as co-director in 2019. Benny also worked on the legendary Ray Olan’s “La Nueva Sason” album titled “ Regreso Del Futuro ( Return From The Future ) which is available on vinyl, Ray has a special name for those who he considers a “Jedi” and he calls Benny “ Yoda” for his ability and willingness to elevate whatever musical tasks thrown unto him. Benny is also a part of the latest recording of La Paris All-Stars newest 2019 production titled “RnB and Pop Hits in Salsa” which is a very hot album highly recommended by many and available right now on all digital formats as well as hard copies. Benny is currently working on new projects such as Trevor Bystrom’ newest album where Benny takes lead on percussion with World, AfroCuban rhythms.

In 2016, Dr. Benny Maldonado received a Doctorate of Christian Music degree from Truth and Mercy Institute for Advanced Ministry Studies for his outstanding contributions an ethnodoxological scholar and educator who has utilized his gifts to help, empower, and inspire lower socio-economic status communities to progress in their academic and vocational pursuits. Dr. Benny Maldonado’s research interests and dissertation focuses on teaching church musical groups how to incorporate musical elements and rhythms that are unique to the populace’s cultural identity within American genres of music as a means of preserving cultural heritage and promoting cultural inclusivity among society. Frequently, Dr. Benny Maldonado travels with his family-based music ministry called “By The Spirit Only”, which travels to various churches across the nation presenting Christian musical worship utilizing Puerto Rican rhythms. The Ministry is currently working on the latest production where Benny is sharing percussion ideas with his wife Judit Maldonado who also plays percussion, Co-Engineer and Co-Producing, the release is scheduled for mid 2020.

After successfully producing and recording for other artists, Dr. Benny Maldonado is working on producing his own albums and singles that reflect his musical passions – Salsa, Latin jazz, House, and Funk. In Summer 2018, his new single, “Suelta Tu Celular (Let Go Of Your Cellphone)” was released and is available on iTunes, CDBaby, Spotify and all digital format stores, was single is on the ballot to be considered for a Latin Grammy nomination along side 3 other projects ( “ Tecun “ as Co-Producer, “ Cosquillas “ as Percussionist, and Co-Producer, (Paris All-Stars album “ Los Escogidos” as an Artist with Suelta Tu Celular.) for the upcoming 20th annual Latin-GRAMMYS November 2019 . He continues to be an on-demand percussionist with the capabilities of offering recording services and Skype lessons from the comforts of his home.

Now as head percussionist/Drummer with Trevor Bystrom Benny is taking the band to a higher level of performance and sounds with his wife on minor percussion and both on back up vocals. 2023 looks very promising

At the University, he joined a Latin music band as bassist, called Juvenile Salsa and soon became a percussionist and vocalist. Soon after, he joined another band called Jamboree where he worked with professional piper groups in his city such as Birimbao, Gran Chiquinquira, Maragaita, Swing Gaitero, Saladillo De Rq, Gaitero Train and others. Manuel worked at Fundagraez

(Foundation for the Academy of Gaita Ricardo Aguirre) for 6 years as an integral instructor teaching bagpipes to children and adults in colleges and universities. He went through regional and national recognized groups, where he served as percussionist and vocalist of the band in Latin pop rhythms and then in the CAIBO group, as an Afro-Venezuelan percussionist.

Manuel “Manotas” Ramirez lived in Miami for 5 years where he had the opportunity to accompany Jen Carlos Canela, Cabás and also Maia as percussionist in his recordings and live performances. He currently lives in Nashville where he’s had the opportunity to accompany LA La India De NY, Frankie Ruiz Jr and regional groups such as Giovanni Rodríguez and 12 Manos–Winners of the NIMA award for best Latin jazz band in Nashville. Manuel is well known there as a Percussion Professor, multi- Percussionist, arranger and music producer.

 

Roberto Quintero was born in Caracas, Venezuela where he grew up in one of the most renowned musical families as the son of Ricardo Quintero and Eglee Correa. At age 7 he received his first lessons by his father which led him to play both the Guitar and the Venezuelan Cuatro. After a short period of time his great musical talent was developed and he could study at the Caracas Conservatory. His mentors include names such as Jesús “Totoño“ Blanco and Marides Mijares. With his parent’ support he was able to make his first musical steps alongside some of his famous family members Nene, Chu, Rafael and Rosalia Quintero.

In Venezuela he has been part of an extensive number of recordings and performances with numerous world-renowned artists. This includes a 5 year period of touring with Salsa Star Oscar D. Leon.
After his enormous success in his home country he decided to broaden his horizons and move to New York where he currently resides. Here he could fulfil many of his musical dreams, performing alongside countless international stars. Roberto Quintero is an extremely versatile percussionist and is able to enrich the sound of any musical genre.

Awards & Recognitions
Latin Grammy Awards: Caribean Jazz Project Gonzalo Rubalcaba Spanish Harlem orchestra Afro bop
Juan Garcia-Herreros “ Snow Owl “ Luisito Quintero
Franco de Vita
Hector Martignon
Ruben Blades Roberto Quintero
Grammy Awards: Caribean Jazz Project Spanish Harlem Orchestra Diane Schuur
David Samuels
Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

Taku Hirano, one of the top percussionists on the touring and recording circuit, has been referred to by rock legend Mick Fleetwood, founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer for Fleetwood Mac, as his “Secret Weapon” for good reason. His training encompasses Classical concert percussion, jazz drum set, and traditional Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Japanese styles and instruments.

Taku’s client list of luminaries spans practically every genre. He has toured the world with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, John Mayer, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire), and as a featured soloist on the #7 top- grossing concert tour of all time, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Taku is currently touring on drums and percussion with LeAnn Rimes for her 2022-2023 tour.

Live performance credits also include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Annie Lennox, Steven Tyler, Miley Cyrus, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Shakira, Jennifer Hudson, Ed Sheeran, Lorde, The Jonas Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Josh Groban, John Legend, HER, Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss, Joe Zawinul, Chaka Khan, Babyface, Don Henley, Sammy Hagar, Gary Clark, Jr., Peter Frampton, Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes, George Duke, Yolanda Adams, Blue Man Group and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Taku has recorded with Dr. Dre (on the seminal 2001 album), Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Jay Z, The Temptations, Nelly Furtado, Stevie Nicks, Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban and Lionel Richie, in addition to numerous major motion picture scores and soundtracks, television shows, and national commercials.
Taku’s debut album Blu York: Live in NYC was released on Ropeadope in 2021.

Norm Bergeron is from Sanford, Maine, a small working-class town, that a couple of generations before, was the childhood home of Vic Firth. Norm was a born sound dabbler and conduit of rhythmic ideas. His most vivid early childhood memory is of sitting between the washer and dryer in his parent’s basement matching pitch with the one and tapping out the inherent rhythm of the other. 

 

He is a graduate of the University of North Texas Jazz Studies program and was a long-standing member of the famed One O’clock Lab Band as percussionist. While working on his Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, Anthropology, and Documentary Film at UNT, he served as a Teaching Fellow, facilitating the Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, West African, and Gamelan ensembles.

 

Since 2011, Norm has served as Director of Percussion Studies at Temple College in Temple, Texas. In addition, he maintains an active private lesson studio, clinics Brazilian batucada ensembles all over the state, and is a stalwart performer in and around Austin.

Austin Wrinkle is an accomplished and versatile drummer and percussionist with a passion for rhythm and drumming traditions from around the world. With a unique blend of techniques and concepts from various cultures, Austin has developed a distinctive voice on a wide array of drums and percussion instruments.

 

Austin’s exceptional talent has earned him recognition in the music industry, including a nomination for “World Percussionist Of The Year” in the 2014 Drum! Magazine Drummies Awards. He is a founding member of the highly acclaimed percussion group, Hands On’Semble, dedicated to the art of hand drumming. The group has received accolades such as the Drum! Magazine Drummies Award for “Best Percussion Ensemble” in 2003 and 2002, with a first runner-up award in 2001.

 

Hands On’Semble has captivated audiences worldwide, performing at prestigious percussion and world music festivals, music schools, and conservatories across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. They have collaborated with esteemed percussionists such as John Bergamo, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Houman Pourmehdi, Adam Rudolph, Poovalur Sriji, Abbos Kosimov, Glen Velez, Brad Dutz, Jamey Haddad, and many more notable artists.

The group’s contributions extend to the realm of film soundtracks as well. They have worked on the soundtrack for the 2011 Universal Pictures feature film “Cowboys and Aliens” and were featured on the soundtrack for the 2010 Disney feature film, “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time,” composed by Harry Gregson-Williams.

 

To date, Hands On’Semble has recorded five remarkable CDs that have garnered praise and acclaim from percussionists and critics worldwide. Their recorded work has been hailed as masterful, important, and some of the most interesting in its genre.

 

In addition to his involvement with Hands On’Semble, Austin is a founding member of the progressive jazz/rock band PLOTZ!. Their album “Extraordinary Renditions” received multiple awards, including “Best Instrumental CD” and “Best Instrumental Song” at the MAVRIC Awards in Ventura County, as well as “Best International Instrumental CD” from Toronto Exclusive Magazine’s Music Awards.

 

Austin’s musical collaborations extend further, as he has performed with various renowned musicians and groups, including Hindugrass, a fusion ensemble blending Hindustani music from northern India with Bluegrass from Appalachia. Austin has also worked with Lian Ensemble, Adam Rudolph’s Organic Orchestra, Jonathan McEuen, Dave Cipriani, Surge Du Monde, and Moss Man, among others.

 

Austin’s musical journey has taken him to festivals and events worldwide, including the Patagonia Percussion Festival in Argentina, Ritmos de Terra in Brazil, World Drum Festival in Germany, and the International Folk Drum Festival in Taiwan. He has graced stages at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC) and numerous PAS “Days of Percussion” events across the United States. Noteworthy appearances include the Seattle World Rhythm Festival and the Watts Tower Day of the Drum Festival.

 

Beyond his impressive performances, Austin’s compositions have also gained recognition. His composition “Wart Hog #3” was selected for recording at Village Recording Studio in Santa Monica, CA, and featured on the promotional CD “CalArts; Essencia Performance and Composition 1997”. This composition has been performed by percussion ensembles worldwide and has shared programs with renowned composers like John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Steve Reich.

 

Austin has had the privilege of studying under some of the most respected drummers and percussionists of our time. He spent years honing his skills with percussion pioneer John Bergamo and tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. His studies have encompassed South Indian drumming with Mridangam Poovalur Sriji, Persian music with Houman Pourmehdi, orchestral percussion with David Johnson, West African (Ghanaian) drumming with Alfred Ladzekpo, drum set technique and concepts with Bruce Becker, and Jazz drums with the legendary Joe LaBarbara.

 

Austin Wrinkle proudly endorses Remo drumheads and world percussion, Cooperman frame drums, Dream Cymbals and Gongs, and Innovative Percussion drumsticks and mallets.

 

Austin’s musical education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music and a Master of Fine Arts in Music from the esteemed California Institute of the Arts.