Jerry Gonzalez

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.

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. Later, Gonzalez formed Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band, which became more successful. They performed at European jazz festivals and released three albums. Their third album, Rumba Para Monk (1989), topped a readers' poll in Down Beat magazine and was named the jazz album of the year in France by the Academie du Jazz. In 1998 they won both the industry and journalist polls in the New York Jazz Awards Latin jazz category.

Gonzalez was featured in a documentary by Fernando Trueba titled "Calle 54". After the premier of "Calle 54" in 2000, he started to receive invitations to play at concerts and festivals at Spain. Since then, he lives mainly in Madrid playing the 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.

Discography

 * Ya Yo Me Cure (1979)
 * The River Is Deep (1982)
 * Rumba para Monk (1988)
 * Obatalá (1988)
 * Earthdance (1990)
 * Moliendo Café (1991)
 * Crossroads (1994)
 * Pensativo (1995)
 * Impressions with Afro Blue Band, 1995
 * Fire Dance (1996)
 * Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band Live (1996)
 * Calle 54 (2000)
 * Jerry Gonzalez & Los Piratas del Flamenco (2004)
 * Rhumba para Buhaina (2005)
 * Music for a Big Band (2006)