The Latin Sounds of the Crescent City
From the infectious rhythms of salsa and merengue to the soulful melodies of Latin jazz, these sounds are part of New Orleans' musical heartbeat.
Beyond entertaining audiences, Latin bands preserve cultural traditions and enrich the city's diverse musical landscape. "Music is one of the most powerful ways to tell the story of Hispanic Heritage Month," said Brenda Melara, editor-in-chief of Qué Pasa Newspaper and co-founder of the annual Qué Pasa Fest in October. "It helps educate non-Latino audiences and allows Latino families to pass traditions on to younger generations."
Live music has been central to Qué Pasa Fest since its inception, and it has featured nearly every Latin band in New Orleans. "Music has the unique ability to cross borders," Melara said. "It creates connections that transcend language." She added that Latin and Spanish music span a wide range of styles, including flamenco, salsa, Spanish rock, cumbia, merengue, bachata, and Latin jazz.
Kicking off the city's lineup of Latin musicians are Johnny Marcia and the Rumba Buena Band, familiar performers on the Congo Square Stage at Jazz Fest. Marcia began performing with his father's band at 16 and took over leadership in 2001, rebranding it with a focus on salsa, merengue, cumbia, and bachata. "My dad played different styles, but I wanted to play salsa dance music," Marcia, a New Orleans native of Honduran descent, said.
Now leading a 14-piece ensemble of percussion, horns, and vocalists, Marcia drives the rhythm on congas, timbales, bongos, cowbells, and cymbals. "Our band has a strong and unique sound," said Marcia, who also works full-time in roofing sales in Kenner. "We are going to get you dancing."
Another standout in New Orleans' Latin music scene, Javier Olondo & AsheSon Band formed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, starting as a trio before growing into a 10- to 12-piece ensemble. "This year will be our 20th anniversary at Jazz Fest," said Olondo, who is also head of the guitar department at Tulane University. "Although we specialize in traditional Cuban music, we do play other genres."
Olondo, who plays guitar and sings, said the band's members from Honduras, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Cuba help attract audiences of all backgrounds. The group also performs monthly at Rock 'n' Bowl.
A longtime fixture in the city's music community, Javier Gutierrez and Vivaz Band have performed Latin jazz for more than 30 years. "Our style of Latin jazz is a mix of jazz chords and progressions with guitars, percussion, trombones, trumpets, piano, and drums," Gutierrez said. The group typically performs as an eight- to 10-piece ensemble but adjusts its lineup and repertoire depending on the event. "Our band is able to play different styles and genres," Gutierrez said. "We have been playing music at Jazz Fest for 34 years."
Similarly, Latin guitar duo Julio Herrera and his brother César have performed at Jazz Fest, local festivals, and private events since the 1980s. "We have been contributing to the culture of Louisiana for the past 45 years," he said. Herrera and his brother began performing in Guatemala before moving to New Orleans in 1967. "We would play our instruments and sing for our family in our home," Herrera said. Their first local performance was in 1968 at a Bourbon Street supper club.
"We play reggae and Cajun music in English, as well as Spanish, Mexican, Italian, and Colombian music, even rock like the Eagles," Herrera said.
Adding to New Orleans' Latin music scene, the 15-member La Tran-K Band delivers high-energy performances with its dynamic blend of percussion, horns, bass, keyboards, and violin. Emma Lugo, the band's manager, highlights its mix of merengue, cha-cha, cumbia, and salsa. "We care about our crowd," said Lugo, whose husband is the bandleader and whose son plays violin. "We do our best, and they keep showing up."
Since 2012, the band has played festivals, restaurants, and clubs across the region. "When we started, we played at bars on Frenchmen Street," Lugo said. Now, she added, they hold a three-year residency at the Saturn Bar on St. Claude Avenue on the first Friday of each month.
Known for their original compositions, Fermin Ceballos & the Merengue4Four play merengue, cumbia, bachata, and Latin jazz, setting them apart from other bands. Founded in 2013, the band has a five-member core lineup, expanding to eight musicians for major festivals. A Dominican-born musician, Ceballos also heads the Dominican NOLA Fest. He is a singer, composer, and songwriter who performs in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. "People may not know what I am saying, but they are dancing and having a good time," he said.
Keeping Mexican traditions alive, the Mariachi Jalisco was established in 2011 in Baton Rouge before expanding across Louisiana and Mississippi. Specializing in traditional Mexican music, the seven-member group features violins, trumpets, guitarrón, and a vihuela. The band has performed at Jazz Fest for the past 13 years, alongside private parties and restaurant gigs. "Many people call us to play for their celebrations," Angel Esquivel, who sings and plays a guitarrón, said.
Rounding out the local Latin music lineup, Grupo Recuerdo, founded in 2008, performs cumbia, merengue, bachata, and bolero. Led by owner and vocalist Alberto Chinchilla, the group draws dancers of all ages across the metro and surrounding areas. "We are eight musicians from different countries of Central America," Chinchilla said.
Indeed, the Latin music community offers something for every taste and vibe with musicians from Latin America and Spain helping to shape New Orleans' mosaic of cultures.
