Las Vegas tiene tumbao

Latin Beat Magazine, Nov, 2003 by Silvio H. Alava

Las Vegas attracts both gamblers and people who just want to have fun. The bright lights and fast money lure aspiring showgirls, dealers, and hotel workers. The weather is also an attraction for people escaping the harsh winters of the eastern United States and retirees seeking tax breaks and affordable housing. Among these migrating hoards is a group of percussionists who settled here for a basic reason: To work at their chosen craft in the shows of top headliners and venues that still feature lives bands.

Miguel Angel "Mickey" Alvarado, Latin Percussionist

Coamo, Puerto Rico, is where Mickey Alvarado was born, raised and influenced musically by his father, Enrique Alvarado, who was locally famous in the Coamo area as a singer and poet. Mickey received his musical education at P.R.'s Universidad Interamericana de San Germán where he majored in percussion. As a professional musician, Alvarado played with Orquesta Guajey during his high school years. After graduating from college, he joined the group of Antonio "El Topo" Cabán Vale. He went on the road for the first time with trova singer Nelson Albino and when the tour stopped in NYC, Mickey decided to stay for several months. He soon found work and went on the road with Chuck Mangione in 1983. The tour was cancelled while they were appearing in Las Vegas and he has resided in Sin City ever since. He has played with such local Latin bands as Tropical Splash, Latin Breeze and Ricky Arroyo's Latin Jazz Ensamble, and has also shared the stage with the visiting bands led by Tito Puente, Yari Moré and Alex Acuña. Show headliners like Charo and Clint Holmes have hired him for his percussive talents. Mickey is currently working at The Rum Jungle in Mandalay Hotel & Casino, while doing additional work with the Las Vegas Jazz Orchestra and The UNLV Latin-Jazz Ensemble.

José "Pepe" Jiménez, Trap Drummer and Latin Percussionist

Born in Santurce, and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Pepe received his musical education at Escuela Libre de Hato Rey, L.A.'s Music Institute of Technology and San Juan's The Conservatory of Music. He commenced his professional career backing up singer Lourdes Robles and as a member of the Taller de Jazz de Don Pedro in Rio Piedras, P.R. He went on the road with guitarist Pedro Guzmán, singers Danny Rivera and Jerry Rivera, and trumpeter Humberto Ramirez. The list of names with whom he has worked is toe long to list here, but includes such figures as Marc Anthony, Olga Tañon and Manny Manuel José Jiménez came to Las Vegas with the variety show "Storm," which opened at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in 2001. When the show closed, he was hired to fill the drummer's chair in the phenomenal new show, "Mama Mia," also presented at the Mandalay Bay.

Gabriel Santana Falcón, Drummer and Latin Percussionist

Born into a musical family that toured all over California, Falcón saw his first light of day in San José, California. His father led the group Noé Falcon y su Familia, which featured his wife, daughters and sons. Specializing in cumbias, norteñas, tex-mex and pop, the band toured California and Texas, playing county fairs and special events. A graduate of the musical curriculum of Citrus College in Azusa, CA, Falcón received his Cuban percussion instruction while living and freelancing in Las Angeles. His mentor and teacher was Cuco Martínez Jr., the son of the legendary Cuban bassist and timbalero with the same name. He has done extensive work in recordings and in television as a member of the María Conchita Alonso Show. Variety shows seen on Galavisión and Telemundo have used his talent as a drummer and percussionist. He was called to audition for the show "Storm" at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino by its musical director, Jerry López, and was hired as a featured percussionist. After the show closed, Falcón remained in Las Vegas doing freelance work, including Edward James Olmos' and Clint Holmes' fundraisers, and gigs with various groups throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Alex León, Latin Percussionist

The son of a Colombian father end en Ecuadorian mother, Alex León Jr. was born in Paterson, New Jersey. The family moved to Miami in 1982 and he received his musical education by observing his father and members of his banal, "Los Leonas De La Salsa." Alex León Sr. led this band as a timbalero and singer. Junior's fist gig was performing with "Los Tremendos de Colombia," a popular local salsa banal in Miami. Other bands he worked with include the ones led by Lefty Pérez, David Pabón and Nino Segarra. He traveled to Las Vegas to join his cousin Steven, who had organized a band called "The Latin All-Stars." They became the house band for the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. A well-rounded percussionist, León is currently freelancing with a variety of groups, both in Sin City and Los Angeles.