Pedro Vargas was born in Havana, Cuba. Pedro grew up in Bahia Honda, a small town in the Pinar Del Rio province of western Cuba, where his father was a musician. Pedro started playing the congas when he was eight years old, learning by watching his father and other local musicians as well as the great Cuban percussionists Tata Guines and Changuito. Pedro started playing the bongos when he was fifteen years old. Pedro recorded two discs with Barbarito Torres, “Havana Café” and the self titled “Barbarito Torres,” which was nominated for a grammy in 2003. Pedro toured with the Piquete Cubano for five years. He has played in Europe, Central and South America, the United States, Canada, and Japan. Pedro most recently recorded in Cuba with Tradicuba, a group made up of members of the Piquete Cubano and other Havana musicians. Pedro arrived in Seattle in December, 2004.

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade. Solo efforts on his recent albums and performances with luminaries such as Rosemary Clooney, The Chico O’Farrell Orchestra, Ritchie Cole, Joe Locke & Kenny Kirkland, have gained him numerous awards and recognition throughout the music world. In 1999 he won the prestigious Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition sponsored by the International Trumpet Guild and the Herb Albert Foundation. Thomas Marriott, a Seattle native, first gained attention with the 1997 release of his first album “Open Season.” The Album won Seattle jazz radio KPLU’s top pick for that year. In 2000, Thomas joined the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, and relocated to New York City. he also performed with The Tito Puente Orchestra, Eric Reed, Brian Lynch, Bebo Valdez, Eddie Palmieri and many others. Now making Seattle his home once again, Thomas is a member of many ensembles including the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and has released his first solo album “Individuation” on the Origin Records label. Thomas Marriott is a C.G.Conn sponsored artist & clinician.

Dean Schmidt is one of the most sought after bassist in the Northwest, well versed in all styles of music. He studyied music in Los Angeles to at the prestigious Musicians Institute of Technology. Through many world class musicians at MIT he was exposed to different idioms such as jazz, latin, brazilian and world music. After spending six years in Los Angeles playing with different bands, he was hired by the legendary James Burton (Elvis Pressly’s guitarist) for a year stint in Waikiki, Hawaii. After Hawaii he relocated to Seattle using this city as his home base for his career as a freelance and studio bassist. Known for his solid time feel and choice of notes he was hired out for international tours in Turkey, South East Asia and Japan, also performing with singer extraordinaire Jane Powell on Norwegian Cruise Line. In the last two years he has performed with legend Pat Boone and LA based jazz group The David Becker Tribune.

Jeff Busch is an exuberant drummer/percussionist, vocalist, and composer whose passion or soulful music of varied traditions has led him to perform with jazz, blues, and gospel groups--as well as calypso, samba, and Cuban jazz ensembles. Between 1988-96, Jeff studied fine art, and music in Leeds, England. He studied percussion and drum set with Dave Hassel, calypso with steel drum master Dudley Nesbitt, and later Brazilian percussion with Jesse Bannister. In 1997, Jeff spent six months in Brazil and studied with a variety of percussionists including Edmilson Costa Teixeira, Gilo do Pandeiro, and Mestres Memeu and Lazaro from Olodum. In 1998 Jeff retumed to Brazil and had the opportunity to play and perform with the Jovino Santos Neto group which included drummer Marcio Bahia, bassist Arismar do Espirito Santo, and saxophonist Hans Teuber. Currently Jeff continues to perform with a variety of groups in the Seattle area including the Jovino Santos Neto quinteto; Cuban jazz groups Rumba Abierta, and Tumbao led by pianist Julio Jauregui; and Cuban dance band Mango Son, led by Roberto Sanchez. He is the drummer at First AME church, and also plays for pianist Kent Stevenson, and gospel singer Patrinell Wright.

Carlos Cascante was born in the small town of Liberia, Costa Rica into a family of musicians and artists. In 1996 Carlos was invited to join the well established folkloric group Grupo Lo Nuestro lead by Fernell López, and also a salsa band by the name of Caliente. After arriving in Seattle Carlos joined a salsa band by the name of Nueva Era with whom he shared the stage with well known artists including Lalo Rodríguez, Maelo Ruiz, Héctor Tricoche, David Pabón, and Peruvian vocalist Melcochita. In 2003, Julio and Carlos decided to create a six piece Latin ensemble by the name of “Tumbao”, with the idea to further explore Jazz and Latin music. Carlos also joined Latin Expression, where he had the pleasure to open for stars like Oscar D’ León, Joe Arroyo, Fulanito, Caña Brava, Adolescentes and others. In 2001, Carlos performed with Fania All Stars’ pianist Larry Harlow as lead singer at the Seattle Latin Sea Fair. Carlos was honored to be part of the Seattle Salsa All stars event next to such artist as Joe Santiago, Doug Beavers, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pablito ‘El Indio’ Rosario, Ivan Renta, Julio Jáuregui, Rafael Aparicio and Luis de Jesus. In 2004, he recorded a CD with Latin Expression in Colombia in collaboration with Diego Gale’s musicians. Carlos Cascante is a well versed Latin vocalist. His love for the music radiates while he is on stage. He easily connects with the crowds and his joy ignites the life of those who enjoy listening and dancing to Latin rhythms.