After Winter, Spring by Willie Martinez La Familia Sextet

Blues, Danny Mixon, Steve Turre, Benny Powell, and Arthur Blythe; and pop veterans Leon Pendarvis, Barry Eastmond, Jerry Barnes, and Ira Siegel.

Mr. Martinez performs regularly with his group La Familia Sextet; an ensemble that features his original compositions and arrangements. The sextet features Willie on drums and vocals, Cristián Rivera and Renato Thoms on congas and percussion, Misha Tsiganov on piano, Jennifer Vincent on bass, Max Schweiger on baritone sax & flute, and J. Walter Hawkes on trombone.

This ensemble represents the very best in New York style Latin jazz. The baritone sax and trombone frontline is a unique treatment in this genre, and combined with the infectious rhythm section, smokes to the very last note.

After Winter, Spring is drummer, percussionist and vocalist Willie Martinez's long awaited follow-up to Family, the well received 2006 debut recording of his original Latin Jazz ensemble La Familia Sextet.

The group features Willie's original compositions and arrangements, as well as those of the members of La Familia, all top notch composers in their own right, along with new interpretations of a few familiar themes from the past.

Willie Martinez and his La Familia Sextet stand upon the shoulders of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Jerry Gonzalez's Fort Apache, and Hilton Ruíz to present a set of music that represents the very best in real New York style Latin jazz. Join them as they take the listener on a musical journey to explore a style of music that continues to thrive and flourish on the streets of the Big Apple, from Alphabet City to East Harlem.

After Winter, Spring finds the original members of La Familia reassembled and joined by new member Cristián Rivera, one of the hottest young percussionists on the New York scene today. Enjoy this new offering from one of the tightest and swiningest bands in town!

Mr. Martinez can also be heard with the Bronx Horns, led by longtime Tito Puente saxophonist Mitch Frohman; on "Back with Sweet Passion", the most recent recording of flautist Andrea Brachfeld, where he is featured on drums and vocals; on "Pa'lante", the highly acclaimed Latin jazz CD by Palmetto recording artist, trumpeter Ray Vega; and on "Steppin' with T.P.", the last commercially released CD by the late, great piano virtuoso Hilton Ruíz.

He is also the musical director of percussionist Norman Hedman's tropical jazz ensemble Tropique, and can be heard on their latest recording "Garden of Forbidden Fruit" on Power Light Records.

He resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Aricka and their two children.

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