Led by Ruben Vazquez

Saturday April 20, 2024
Doors open at 7:30, Music at 8:00

Tickets: $25.00

Tap your toes or even get up and dance to some bossa nova, cha cha cha, jazz standards and Latin funk.

The RCM Latin Jazz Ensemble have performed at South Coast Jazz, Burning Kiln Winery, The Royal Conservatory in Toronto, The Toronto Canoe and Sailing Club, Red Fox Farm and numerous private engagements.

Bandleader and pianist Ruben Vazquez is from Havana, Cuba where he graduated from the prestigious Conservatory "Amadeo Roldan" as Choir Conductor and Professor. Since his arrival in Canada in 1995 he has earned a Bachelor of Music at Humber College, ARCT in piano performance at the Royal Conservatory, a Masters and a PhD at York University.

Ruben is an in-demand pianist and band leader on the Toronto music scene. He has led his own bands, played with Jane Bunnett, Louis Mario Ochoa, Alexis Baro, Marta Elena’s salsa band, The Three Tenors and many others. He has toured in Europe, South America, and the United States. He has performed at the Latin Grammy celebrations in 2004, at the Canadian Genie Awards with Jane Bunnett and at last year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize. He is currently is on faculty at the Oscar Peterson School of Music and Humber College teaching piano, music theory, sight singing and jazz ensembles. He worked as Teacher Assistant at York University where he taught music theory, harmony, analysis, counterpoint, and piano proficiency. 

The RCM Latin Jazz Ensemble are:
Ruben Vazquez – piano, bandleader
Aldo de Jong – clarinet
Adam Aucoin – trumpet
Greg Papinko – guitar
Colin Flint - bass
David Grad - drums
Joyce Humbert – congas
Jérôme Decq - violin