Band
Orquesta La Fiebre features some of Southern California’s hottest musicians playing Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Bolero, Cha cha cha, Mambo, and Latin Jazz. The band, which was formed in 2002 by Sandie Castañeda, Sam Thompson, and Matt Treadway, has evolved into a unique balance of multiculturalism and candela!
La Fiebre compliments any festive occasion and has performed at Stevens Steakhouse, Cafe Sevilla, Saffire, Sachi, Aventuras, and The Galaxy Theatre. Members of the group have shared the stage with Irakere, Salsa Caliente, Roxing Kafé, Mezcla, Gato Barbieri, Victor Manuelle, Grupo Niche, Mili Mili, Francisco Torres, Socamotion, Nu Pan Groove, and Badaue.
Personnel
Sandie Castañeda
Instrument: Timbales
Sandie is an L.A. based drum set and timbale player in the Afro Cuban idiom. Sandie also specializes in Brazilian percussion, possessing a working knowledge of repenique, surdo, caxia and timbal, which she refined as an understudy in Bahia Brazil with Andre Sauza do Santos in Salvador. Fluent in many styles of drumming including, Jazz, Latin, and Caribbean music, Sandie has also studied with Jazz Teachers Peter Erskine, Paul Kreibich and Randy Drake. Sandie is an Alumnus of the California State University at Long Beach where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music.
Andrew Acquista
Instrument: Congas
Andrew has been playing drums for eighteen years. He has studied congas and Cuban music with Michael Spiro, studio drumming techniques with Brad Dutz, Brazilian drumming with Mark Lamson, Djembe and Doun Doun with Lansana Kouyate, African Ewe music with C.K. Ladzekpo, Steel Drum with Dr.Eugene Novotney, and Mbira with Michael Cox. In addition to dance classes and studio sessions, Andrew performs with notable bands throughout Southern California, such as Mili Mili.
Edwin Porras
Instrument: Bass
Edwin Porras graduated from CSULB with a Bachelor of Music degree. He has been playing with La Fiebre since 2007. Other projects he is currently involved in include the Tom Morrison band and John-a-Dreams. He also works as a music instructor in the South Bay area.
Matthew Treadway
Instrument: Piano
Matt Treadway has been a musician his entire life, spending the majority of his adolescence studying piano and guitar. During high school he transitioned to percussion studies, which remained his focus throughout college. A CSULB alumnus, it was there where he further developed his keyboard and mallet proficiency. Matt currently resides in Los Angeles, working principally as a keyboardist and steel drum artist. Matt has studied with Dr. Michael Carney, Dr. David Gerhart, Randy Drake, and Jeff Goodkind.
Keith Meier
Instrument: Trombone and Vocals
Keith has been studying music for 13 years. He has performed with Mili Mili and Roxing Kafé and has recorded with Echocell. Under the tutelage of Jeff Reynolds, Keith earned a BA in Music from California State University, Long Beach- focusing on Jazz and Classical styles.
Samuel Thompson
Instrument: Trumpet and Vocals
Samuel has been playing trumpet since the age of nine. He came up through the ranks of middle school, high school, community college, and university bands. Outside of school he has played with Melting Pot, The Allentons, Echocell, Bobby Cuba y Su Son, Los Bocucos, and Mezcla to name a few. Samuel has shared the stage with the Skatelites, Fishbone, Reel Big Fish, and Weapon of Choice. He has played at The Strand and the Whiskey A-Go-Go in LA and at the Jazz Café and El Zorro y Cuervo in Havana. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from CSULB and is currently working on the Masters in Afro-Latin music at CSULA.
Masumi Kono
Instrument: Woodwinds and Vocals
Masumi started playing music at the age of four. She moved to the United States in 1996 and has studied with Jeff Clayton, Leo Potts, and Joe Stone. Her primary instrument is alto saxophone, her secondary instruments include: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, drums and piano. She plays with notable groups such as Mili Mili and teaches throughout Southern California.
Jesse Navarette
Instrument: Vocals
Jesse joined La Fiebre in November, 2005. He has performed at Steven’s Steak House, Café Sevilla (Riverside, Long Beach, and San Diego), the Mayan, Monsoons, the Granada, the Bermuda Salsa Congress, and Ruby’s Café. In addition to being an expert Salsa vocalist he plays guiro, clave, and campana. Jesse is also a member of Salsa Caliente and his passion for singing includes R & B.
Adelaide Benavides
Instrument: Lead vocals
Addie obtained a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Texas State University. She received outstanding soloist awards from the University of North Texas Collegiate Jazz Festival and the Notre Dame Jazz Festival. She was the Musical Director of Soul Food and a vocalist, trumpet player, and percussionist for Salsa Del Rio. This group has won the Univision Award for best salsa and merengue band in San Antonio the past three consecutive years and the Down Beat award for this year. She is currently working on her Master of Music: Afro Latin Option at CSULA and playing with Chalo y Su Ache and Orquesta Trovador locally.
Narciso “Palito” Valdés
Composer
This Cuban rumbero grew up with the famous conguero Tata Güines and has seen his music recorded by the legendary Los Van Van, Malena Burke, Conjunto Sol y Barro, and Francisco Feove. Palito was the musical director and correogropher of Cuchi y Sus Muchachos del Guaguancó in Havana. In Miami he worked with the duet Olga y Tony, pianist Maestro Zabatela, and Margarita de La O. In New York he played at the Catalina Steak House with Lázaro Prieto y su Orquesta. He has recorded with Juan L. La Franco and has shared the stage with Chico Borobó, Vicentico Valdez, Marcia Julián, and Orlando Contreras.
Friends
Chris Shultz
Instrument: Bongó
Chris has been playing drums for twelve years. His first professional musical experience was playing in his drum teacher´s Reggae band. From there he moved on to work with songwriter/actor Drake Bell (Nickelodeon). In addition to bongo and drum set he plays congas, classical percussion, steel drums, and various world percussion instruments- including West African drumming with Yeko Ledzekpo- Cole and Kevin O’Sullivan. He has also studied at CSULB with Dr. Michael Carney. Additionally, Chris has studied Samba in Brasil and has played with Badaue at the Palladium and Long Beach Carnaval, and with Mambo Sol at Cuban Bistro.
John Lee
Instrument: Woodwinds
John began studying music in 1992 while he was living in Costa Rica, where he bought his first pair of congas. In 1993 he began playing drum set, studying with Jaime Haddad. In 1997 he began to study flute at Saddleback College with Mary Paulcheck and at CSULB with Dr. John Barcelona for one year. His studies of the saxophone began in 1998 with Paul Carmen. John was a member of Badaue and currently plays with Sabroso in the San Luis Obispo area.
Eloy Adame
Instrument: Trumpet
This highly sought after musician began playing the trumpet in middle school at the age of eleven. He studied with Charlie Davis at CSULB while obtaining a BM in Music Education. Eloy toured many of the states on the east and west coast of the United States with the Sonora Dynamita and Grammy award winning Joan Sebastian in Mexico during the late 90s. He is fluent in the Jazz and Classical idioms. Eloy is currently teaching music at Griffith Middle School and working on a Masters in Afro Latin Music at CSULA. He plays regularly with Son Y Clave and recently recorded with The Echo Park Project.
Thea King
Instrument: Flute
Thea has been playing flute since age nine and studied piano for ten years. Her teachers have included Danilo Lozano, James Newton, Karen Hayhurst, and Paul De Castro to name a few. She has played with Chalo y Su Aché and the CSULA Afro-Latin Ensemble. Thea currently holds a Bachelor of Music: Performance Option from CSULA. She is expected to graduate with a Master of Music Degree: Afro-Latin from CSULA in Winter of 2008!