La Banda Ramirez
Metrotang Chacho Ramirez Carolyn Steinberg
Percussionist Chacho Ramirez is a versatile player of wide repertoire, from Latin jazz, samba, and salsa, to swing, fusion and funk, on drums, congas, bongos, and timbales. He has recorded five albums with his Latin jazz quintets Metrotang and La Banda Ramirez, and has performed and/or recorded with Ahmad Jamal, Alex Blake, Hal Galper, Bill Jacobs, Ron Gill, and many others. His album “Lights Out” is all original compositions, and his works are featured prominently throughout the albums of 2019 – 2024 (A Family Ting, Cuban Butterflies, Lizzie’s Lounge, I Remember Bill which begins with his composition commissioned by the New York State Council on the Arts).
Flutist Carolyn Steinberg earned her doctoral degree in music composition from The Juilliard School and has written over 100 works of vocal and instrumental music. Playing Latin Jazz flute with co-leader Chacho Ramirez of La Banda Ramirez, together they have built a unique book of music. She has produced six albums, including her chamber music compositions for classical instruments (Songs, Dances, Duos), three Latin jazz albums with La Banda Ramirez, in which she plays flute (A Family Ting, Cuban Butterflies, Lizzie’s Lounge with support from Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus Grant), and two for Chacho Ramirez (Lights Out and I Remember Bill in which she also arranges and plays flute).
Bassist Michael O'Brien has been performing and composing internation-ally for three decades with such notables as Harry Connick Jr., Ruben Blades, The Merce Cunningham Dance Co., Gene Pitney, Dave Samuels, Pablo Ziegler, Steve Wilson, Victor Lewis, Gene Jackson, Portinho, Ted Nash, and many others. Michael has performed at festivals in Russia, Belarus, Haiti, Mexico, Norway, Ukraine, Japan, and nationally at the Lincoln Center Festival, JEN (Jazz Educators Network), IAJE (International Jazz Educators conference), and others. His string quartet work "Pine" was performed at the Kennedy Center by the acclaimed string quartet Ethel. Michael has taught clinics and performed masterclasses throughout the United States, Central and South America, Africa, Europe, and Japan. Since 2022, he has been performing, teaching masterclasses and holding clinics in Mauritania,D.R Congo, and Angola via the State Departments’ African Regional Services.
Pianist Carlos Cuevas has worked with Bette Midler, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Los Angeles Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, and New York's Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas to name a few. He continues to work with NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws. Carlos served as both Audio Engineer and Pianist for the album "I Remember Bill," released in 2024 by Chacho Ramirez.
As bandleader, Carlos's two albums. “DEPICTION" and "UNINHIBITED REALM” have been praised by Downbeat, Keyboard, Modern Drummer, & Músico Pro magazines, as well as The Los Angeles Jazz Scene, and CDBaby.com.
Carlos makes his home in New York City where he has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is a much-sought-after arranger, studio musician, producer, and educator.
Pianist Jack Glottman from Bogotá, Colombia, moved to New York City in 2003 and since has performed steadily in New York City in venues including Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, Lenox Lounge, Smalls, Paris Blues, Ornithology and many others. Mr. Glottman has two independently produced CDs of original material, and worked as sideman on many recordings. performing at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, Lenox Lounge, Smalls, and Paris Blues, with musicians Melissa Walker, Rafi Malkiel, “Grupo Cachimba,” at locales such as Fat Cat (now CellarDogs), with La Banda Ramirez, the Fat Cat Big Band, the Afro-Cuban Big Band, Christian McBride, Ron Blake, and Wes Anderson. Mr. Glottman has two independently produced CDs featuring his compositions and arrangements, three CDs with La Banda Ramirez, and one CD with the music collective “Migrant Workers.” He participated at artist residencies at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and at the Steans Institute for Young Artists in Ravinia, Illinois.
We Love New York City's Musicians
Guest Artists on Albums
Alex Blake (Bass) I Remember Bill
Steve Catalano (Tenor Sax) I Remember Bill
Hector Martignon (Piano, Rhodes) Lizzie’s Lounge
Carly Maldonado (Congas) Lizzie’s Lounge
Richie Vitale (Trumpet) A Family Ting
Neil Clarke (Congas) A Family Ting
Ratzo Harris (Bass) A Family Ting
Corinna Hernandez (Singer) A Family Ting
Lenny Azzarello (pianist, composer) Lizzie's Lounge
Chief Baba Neil Clarke (Congas) A Family Ting
Oscar Oñoz (trumpet) Cuban Butterflies
Jorge Jimenez (Congas) Lights Out
Phil Palombi (Bass)
Lights Out
