Grupo Ayé – 2015

Grupo Ayé

Saturday, August 8, 2015 – 9:00 to 10:30
MICA Stage

Grupo Ayé is a high energy, brass-kicking Afro-Caribbean/Salsa band–a Latin orchestra that ignites any venue in which they perform, with their program of original music and Latin covers — a mixture of Cuban Timba, Salsa, Bachata, Merengué and Latin Jazz — all of it irresistibly danceable.

Grupo Ayé was formed just over two years ago by Robert Mulligan, one of the most sought-after percussionists/educators in the Midwest. His career includes performing and/or recording with some of the top Latin, Jazz and Pop musicians in mid-America, including Pat Metheny, Tito Puente, Wynton Marsalis, Celia Cruz, Aretha Franklin, Harry Chapin Jr., Englebert Humperdink, Paquito Rivera, Marcos Cavalcante, Andrew Lázaro’s Caribe Breeze, Juan Daniel Castro, Orquesta Sabrosa, Orquesta Ritmo, Tumbao Bravo, Terry Lower and more. When he arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and found very little in the way of salsa or Latin jazz groups, he hand-picked his own ensemble.  Besides Mulligan on drums/timbales, the performers are:  Steve Talaga (keyboards), Joe Vasquez (bass), Xavier Rosario (congas), Carlos Cruz (bongo), Oscar Gonzalez (voz), Daniel Montejo (vocals), Brad Fowler and Russ McMartin (trumpet), Shawn Bell (trombone), Tom Lockwood (sax and flute).

Website: www.facebook.com/grupo.aye