yabanada

Yabanada is a collaboration of Texas Blues spiced with New Orleans Funk, Latin Rhythms, and Jazz Harmonies.  A veritable “Blues Stew” with diverse influences from Little Feet, Santana, and The Allman Brothers to The Meters, Miles Davis, and Monk.

Original by nature, the band features songs by guitarist Benjamin Lin, who just returned from eight years in the Middle East and a stint with a 40’s style jazz band in Bahrain.

The heart of the groove is driven by Drummer Jack Stoker, a veteran of Texas dance halls, has been seen more than a few times on stage with Sammy Hagar, with a solid pulse: courtesy of Bassist Kevin Wheatley, an old hand of the Blues Circuit in and around the West Coast Bay Area.

Rhythmic spice is delivered by Percussionist Albert Alonzo, who toured and recorded for some years with the Reggae band Zion playing congas timbales, and a menagerie of various other percussion instruments.

Richard Conine, studied sax under the legendary Tony Campise of the Stan Kenton big band, and now contributes his accomplished arrangement skills while also providing soulful accompaniments playing keyboards, flute, and saxophones.

Rick Gallegos, a 30+ year professional, world touring, master trombonist making the rounds from the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland to the Corpus Christi and Victoria Symphony Orchestras, along with Charles Reyna, previous first trumpet of the Texas Longhorn Band, both add their sweet and tasty horn stylings of Trombone and Trumpet serving up Muscle Shoals Caliente flavor.

Yabanada: an exotic ambrosia of vibrant rhythms, sublime harmonies, relentless groove, and spontaneous improvisations guaranteed to get your mojo working!