Jonathan Suazo – Ricano

Jonathan Suazo – Ricano
Quincy, MA
Grant amount: $14,200

About the Artists

Jonathan Suazo: Alto Saxophone Puerto Rican Saxophonist / Composer / Arranger and Flow Artist. His music highlights traditional rhythms from his Puerto Rican / Dominican roots and ancestry within a Cross-Cultural Fusion container of his many musical influences. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz & Caribbean Music at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, and his Master’s Degree in Contemporary Performance at Berklee College of Music (Global Jazz Institute).

Tanicha Lopez: Highly recognized for her vocal / movement skills, Tanicha is a power house of talent that brings unbelievable enery to the stage in any setting. TL is currently living in Puerto Rico and is an active member of the renown latin pop group Cultura Profética with whom she’s traveled the world.

Francisco Alcalá: Drummer, Born in Ponce Puerto Rico. Francisco has become the number one call for all Jazz endeavors in Puerto Rico, he’s been consistently gaining notoriety internationally due to his tours with renown artists such as: Grammy Award winning Latin Jazz Trumpeter Charlie Sepúlveda, William Cepeda, Humberto Ramirez and Pete Rodriguez.

Oscar Neol: Percussionist from Piñones, Loiza, He began playing at age 5, with his main instrument, “El Timbal”. At the age of 11 in 2001, he entered the Ernesto Ramos Intermediate Music School of Music in Puerto Rico, completing his high school degree in 2007. In 2008 he entered the Inter Metro University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Arts & Popular Music. Currently living in Springfield MA

Miguel Martinez: Percussion Miguel Martinez is one of the most esteemed percussionists in the music scene of Boston, Massachusetts today. Miguel is an experienced percussionist in many styles, such as Jazz, World Music, R&B, Latin, and other genres especially Folklore music from Puerto Rico.

Anibal Cruz: Piano Anibal Cruz studies piano at Berklee College of Music. He graduated from the Jose White Conservatory in Camaguey, Cuba, and from Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba. He has a strong presence in the Latin music scene around the Boston area, both as a freelance musician and as leader of the Latin jazz band Clave and Blues.

Dan Martinez: Born in San Lorenzo Puerto Rico, Dan is quickly becoming one of the top bassist in new York due to his amazing ability to fluctuate between many different musical styles.

Fabiola Méndez: Cuatro Player, Native to Caguas, PR, Fabiola Mendez began playing the Puerto Rican cuatro at the age of 6. In recent years, she’s had the honor of receiving recognition such as the Quincy Jones Award, ambassador for the Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC, a motion from the PR House of Representatives as the first cuatro player to graduate from Berklee, one of WBUR's The ARTery 25 artists by Boston’s NPR news station in 2021, the Brother Thomas Fellowship, and the Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship.

Amaury Febres: Percussionist / Dancer. Born in San Juan Puerto Rico, Amaury is an afro Puerto Rican percussion master that is well known in and out of Puerto Rico for teaching Bomba drum playing and dancing in youth and adult programs with his group La Bomba Va.