Fran Vielma: Multi-percussion/Compositions/Vocals
Marshall Gilkes: Trombone
Sean Jones: Trumpet
Antonio Orta: Alto saxophone
Savino Palumbo: Piano/keys
Eric Tapper: Drum set
Peter Slavov: Bass

“The ensemble is not quite hard-bop and not quite salsa-they are something more complex and unprecedented, and take sharp turns at times.” Phillip Freeman, Downbeat Magazine July 2018

This innovative jazz ensemble is comprised of world-class musicians from Venezuela and Latin America who are based in the United States. Their shared musical background of Caribbean and South American genres blended with their knowledge of jazz traditions and music from the concert hall creates a unique synergy and masterful spontaneity at every performance.

Fran Vielma, born in Venezuela, is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. Vielma was recently awarded the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellowship and the Jazz Road Tour Grant by South Arts Foundation.

Tendencias, his recent release with the start-studded Venezuelan Jazz Collective includes his original works and an arrangement of a piece by the laureate Venezuelan songwriter, Simon Díaz. It features some of the most important players of the jazz scene in the world and was included in the Best of 2018 lists by Downbeat, Latin Jazz Net, & NYC Jazz Record.