Grupo los Santos is a quartet of American musicians who, through a mixture of jazz with Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, are creating a new soul in the music of New York.
Formed in 1998 to explore the blending of these traditions, Los Santos have performed in Cuba and throughout the U.S., worked and recorded with some of the greats of Cuban music, and have developed a strong following in the New York/Tri-state area.
Their first CD, Noches en El Taller, released in 2000, features a range of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian styles, including Cuban son, rumba-son, bolero, samba and bossa nova as well as batá pieces for drumset.
Their second CD, Cruzando el Mar (2003), continues the tradition with high energy originals in guaguancó, funk, cha cha chá and descarga, as well as further explorations in samba, rumba and partido alto.
Henri Salgâo of Músico Pro magazine described the work as "A tasty fusion of genres...that shows their deep admiration of Cuban music (particularly the percussive richness of the batás) and Brazilian music." Keith Ganz wrote "Relaxed, authentic Latin grooves underpin an openended, intimate jazz quartet setting to create a truly unique and satisfying kind of jazz."
