Although the Estrada Brothers have had their group for decades, it was not until 1997 that they had an opportunity to record for a major jazz label. The band started in the mid-'50s and was founded by Ruben, Henry and Angel Estrada. The brothers grew up in Oxnard, California and were inspired by the jazz meets Latin music of Cal Tjader, Stan Kenton and Tito Puente. Ruben (who originally played trumpet and drums) plays vibes in the style of Tjader while Henry plays saxophones and flute; Angel left the band in the 1970s. Raul Rico Jr. became the group's percussionist in 1976 and in 1986 the group solidified with the addition of Ruben's son Cougar on drums, pianist Joe Rotondi, Jr. and bassist Malcom Ian Peters. In 1995, the band finally made its first recording, About Time on their Rumba Jazz label. The success of that CD resulted in Milestone signing the Estrada Brothers and recording Get Out of My Way in 1997

The history of the Estrada Brothers can be traced back to the 1950s in Oxnard, when brothers Ruben, Henry and Angel fell in love with the legendary music of Tito Puente, Stan Kenton and Latin jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader.
Inspired by those artists, the brothers decided to start their own band. When the group first started, Ruben was playing drums and trumpet. Soon, though, he took a cue from Tjader and added vibes to his repertoire, which gave the group a very identifiable sound.
"Our group took another path into Latin jazz," Ruben said. "We're the first group that did West Coast Latin jazz flavored with a vibraphonist. Everyone else has followed our road."


In the tradition of maintaining the Latin jazz spirit alive in the West Coast crystallized by the late percussionist/vibist Cal Tjader, and more recently by the likes of Poncho Sanchez, John Santos and Bongo-Logic, comes the music of The Estrada Brothers. Based out of Oxnard, California, about an hour's ride north of Los Angeles, the group was conceived some 40 years ago by vibist Ruben Estrada. In the past years the band has matured and locked into its own personal style.


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Gracias por la información, excelente aporte...