Jerry Gonzalez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This biography does not cite any references or sources. (January 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Jerry Gonzalez (b. Bronx, NY, June 5, 1949) is an American-born Latino jazz trumpeter and percussionist, most notweorthy for his contributions to Afro-Cuban jazz and a resurgence in Latin jazz during the 1980s and 1990s.

[edit] Biography

Jerry Gonzalez has been influenced by Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, actually playing with Gillespie in 1970. After playing with Manny Oquendo and Eddie Palmieri, Jerry creates the Fort Apache Band with Andy Gonzalez (his brother), Larry Willis and Steve Berrios. In addition to founding his own Fort Apache Band, Jerry Gonzalez was featured in a documentary by Fernando Trueba titled "Calle 54". Most of the best artists of Latin Jazz (Paquito D'Rivera, Michel Camilo, Eliane Elias, etc.) play in this documentary.

After the premier of "Calle 54" in 2000, Jerry starts to receive invitations to play at concerts and festivals at Spain. Since then, he lives mainly in Madrid playing the best jazz clubs in the area. He has recorded and played with various artists through the years, such as Andrés Calamaro, Eddie Palmieri, McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente, Tony Williams and Martirio. He has also recorded "Jerry Gonzalez y los piratas del flamenco" (2004) with some flamenco artists like Piraña, Niño Josele or Diego El Cigala.