From his roots in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Christian Pepin (pictured left) has played music all his life. His father, a gifted musician in his own right, and mother, a talented vocalist, gave him a set of drums at the tender age of six. As he became older, he made the transition to timbale, then congas, and onto bongó all while perfecting his musical craft. Music is innately a dominant part of the Pepin family: his great-grandfather Toño Pepin, his Grandfather Papo Pepin, and his cousin Bobby Allende. All musical icons and legends in their own right.
He moved to Spokane, WA from New York City with his family during his teenage years and continued his studies. He learned to improvise many styles such as Rumba, which helped shape and develop Christian’s melodic, versatile, and danceable sound.
In 2001, Christian moved to Seattle where he continued to develop his unique sound as well as a strong following. During that time, he excelled in Marching Band and went on to play all instruments in the Battery, also known as the ‘Drum Line’. Christian fell in love with third bass drum for its complex and challenging odd time. Later In mid 2005, he was asked to join the Cascade Marching Band touring all over the U.S.
In 2008, he started touring with many Latin, World, Rock and R&B artists where he began to develop a very versatile style of playing. Being able to adjust to many types of situations playing each with class and sophistication.
In 2012, Christian moved to San Francisco where he was asked to fly down to record the Grammy Winning album entitled “PMO” with Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Since then, he has and continues to tour all over the world. He has performed and/or recorded with the likes of Poncho Sanchez, Tommy Igoe, Nestor Torres, Pete Escovedo, Steve Turre, Sheila E. as well as the likes of other Latin artist such as Roberto Roena, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Tito Nieves, Michael Stuart, Tony Vega, Tito Rojas, Ray De la Paz, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and many other artists. He formed his own Salsa band, Orquesta Bembe based in the SF Bay Area to much acclaim and is a first call percussionist to many fine and varied artists and ensembles.
Christian Pepin is the musical director of this year’s Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival headliners: The Montuno Productions All Star Afro Cuban Project Salute to Mario Bauzá. Mario Bauzá was the trumpeter, composer, arranger and genius who teamed up with his brother in-law Frank “Machito” Grillo to form Machito and the Afro Cubans the powerhouse innovators of Afro Cuban Jazz. Bauzá’s composition “Tangá” was the first piece to blend jazz harmony and arranging technique, with jazz soloists and Afro-Cuban rhythms. It is considered the first true Afro-Cuban jazz or Latin jazz tune. The Afro-Cubans also appealed to the dancing masses who loved Mambo and big bands at venues such as the legendary Palladium in New York and that fever spread worldwide.
Machito is considered one of the Mambo Kings who dominated the Palladium along with Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. Machito couldn’t have done it without the musical direction of Mario Bauzá and the explosive Afro Cubans orchestra. Bauzá left to form his own band in 1976, retired briefly in the late 1970’s until two tribute concerts in NYC revived his career and later had a great run putting out great recordings that received critical acclaim with his wife, the great vocalist Graciela who gained fame as co-lead vocalist with the Machito Orchestra from the early years until 1976. Bauzá died in 1993 at the age of 82.. I met Bauzá in San Francisco after a historic concert with his big band and Graciela at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco in the early 1990’s. Bauzá was an elderly, feisty short man with a big powerful presence, full of vigor and still swinging on stage leading that big band!
Christian Pepin will be joined by special guest vocalists Jessy Diaz from Cuba via Florida and El Sonero Con Clase, Carlos Rosario fronting a mighty band in what promises to be a very special performance to honor the musical legacy of Mario Bauzá this coming Saturday, April 20th at 5:30 pm at the 3rd Annual Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival presented by Montuno Productions. For tickets and info., visit bayarealatinjazzfestival.com
Live Appearances
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