Marco Diaz Quartet
The Marco Diaz Quartet combines the high energy of a Latin Big Band with the intimate delivery of a small Jazz ensemble. They combine jazz harmonies with the Afro-Caribbean rhythms in their original compositions and original arrangements of both Latin American and American Song Book classics. They are sure to make you feel the passion in their music.
All the members of the Quartet are accomplished musicians and educators in their own right. Julio Perez on percussion, Saul Sierra on bass, and filling in for Carlos Caro is John Santos on percussion. Together the quartet has been playing music together for almost 20 years!
Marco Diaz
Marco Diaz was born and raised in San Francisco and was introduced to the trumpet in the fourth grade at E.R. Taylor Elementary School. His formal training in both piano and
trumpet began at the age of 14. He earned a scholarship from the Community Music Center in San Francisco, and began playing professionally at the age of 17 throughout the Bay Area with various Latin Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, and R&B bands. Upon graduating from high school, he continued his studies at San Francisco State University pursing a Bachelors of Arts in Popular Music and a minor in Economics.
Today, Marco is an accomplished recording musician who has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artist, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Nelson Gonzales, Jimmy Bosch,
Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ska Cubano (Europe), Tito Rojas, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Anthony Blea, Jovino Santos Neto, Joe Santiago, and is an integral member of the John Santos sextet, Bobi Cespedes Ensamble, Edgardo Cambon’s Candela and Latido, and Cascada De Flores. Marco records and performs music throughout the country while also co-leading Vission Latina, an Afro-Caribbean dance band, VL Trio, and his own
group.
Marco Diaz has been part of the faculty at the Community Music Center (CMC) in San Francisco and Los Centzontles in San Pablo, Ca. and at Jazz Camp West. Currently Marco is in his second year as a teaching artist with the SFJAZZ education department, which brings music lessons to students in middle school and high school in the Oakland and San Francisco area. He toured the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State with Bobi Cespedes, teaching children and adults the roots of Afro-Cuban music. Marco also performed at the San Francisco, Tanglewood, and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and the Smithsonian Museum with world renowned ethno-musicologist, John Santos and his
Sextet. Marco completed his 12 season with the San Francisco Symphony’s AIM (adventures in music) program spring 2017. He also had the honor of playing at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture with the Bobi
Cespedes Ensamble.
Raices
Contemporary (Latino) American Music
Curated by John Santos
A concert series of diverse Latino (American) music representing hemispheric creativity in a wide range of formats interpreted by several of the most dynamic interpreters in the field. The term America in its true sense refers to North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean islands. Accordingly, Latin American music defies brief descriptions. Folk syles and rhythms in traditional and evolutionary settings, dance music and jazz play seminal roles in this series.
https://www.thefreight.org/search/">View upcoming shows in the Raices series.
Marco Diaz Quartet
The Marco Diaz Quartet combines the high energy of a Latin Big Band with the intimate delivery of a small Jazz ensemble. They combine jazz harmonies with the Afro-Caribbean rhythms in their original compositions and original arrangements of both Latin American and American Song Book classics. They are sure to make you feel the passion in their music.
All the members of the Quartet are accomplished musicians and educators in their own right. Julio Perez on percussion, Saul Sierra on bass, and filling in for Carlos Caro is John Santos on percussion. Together the quartet has been playing music together for almost 20 years!
Marco Diaz
Marco Diaz was born and raised in San Francisco and was introduced to the trumpet in the fourth grade at E.R. Taylor Elementary School. His formal training in both piano and
trumpet began at the age of 14. He earned a scholarship from the Community Music Center in San Francisco, and began playing professionally at the age of 17 throughout the Bay Area with various Latin Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, and R&B bands. Upon graduating from high school, he continued his studies at San Francisco State University pursing a Bachelors of Arts in Popular Music and a minor in Economics.
Today, Marco is an accomplished recording musician who has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artist, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Nelson Gonzales, Jimmy Bosch,
Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ska Cubano (Europe), Tito Rojas, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Anthony Blea, Jovino Santos Neto, Joe Santiago, and is an integral member of the John Santos sextet, Bobi Cespedes Ensamble, Edgardo Cambon’s Candela and Latido, and Cascada De Flores. Marco records and performs music throughout the country while also co-leading Vission Latina, an Afro-Caribbean dance band, VL Trio, and his own
group.
Marco Diaz has been part of the faculty at the Community Music Center (CMC) in San Francisco and Los Centzontles in San Pablo, Ca. and at Jazz Camp West. Currently Marco is in his second year as a teaching artist with the SFJAZZ education department, which brings music lessons to students in middle school and high school in the Oakland and San Francisco area. He toured the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State with Bobi Cespedes, teaching children and adults the roots of Afro-Cuban music. Marco also performed at the San Francisco, Tanglewood, and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and the Smithsonian Museum with world renowned ethno-musicologist, John Santos and his
Sextet. Marco completed his 12 season with the San Francisco Symphony’s AIM (adventures in music) program spring 2017. He also had the honor of playing at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture with the Bobi
Cespedes Ensamble.
Raices
Contemporary (Latino) American Music
Curated by John Santos
A concert series of diverse Latino (American) music representing hemispheric creativity in a wide range of formats interpreted by several of the most dynamic interpreters in the field. The term America in its true sense refers to North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean islands. Accordingly, Latin American music defies brief descriptions. Folk syles and rhythms in traditional and evolutionary settings, dance music and jazz play seminal roles in this series.
https://www.thefreight.org/search/">View upcoming shows in the Raices series.
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