Quimbombó is dedicated to creatively interpreting the Cuban són (the contagious dance music championed by Buena Vista Social Club that is the main ingredient in salsa) by maintaining strong elements of improvisation and spontaneity in its sound.
Quimbombó (pronounced keem-bohm-BO) is the title of a classic Cuban són popularized by Conjunto Chappotín in the 1950's; a word of Congolese origin, it means "okra" in Spanish.
The group's lively and unique sound has excited audiences at many venues including Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night's Swing, SOB's, The Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Museum, La Belle Epoque, Gonzalez y Gonzalez, Sweet Rhythm, The Blue Water Grill, and Bistro Latino.
Its members are:
The Band Members
Nick Herman
director, composer, arranger, percussion
has studied and performed with masters such as Changuito, AfroCuba de Matanzas, Bobby Sanabria and Roberto Vizciano (Chucho Valdes' conguero).
Nick has worked recently with artists such as Trey Anastasio, Grupo Ribeiro, Jay Collins, Cyro Baptista, Gary Morgan & Panamericana, Nanni Assis, Dende, Pupi Insua's Grupo Oriki, Las Gardenias, Quilombo Samba School, Orquesta Tropicana, and Mecca Bodega. His articles on Cuban music have appeared in Aché and the All Music Guide.
a native of Havana, is a highly accomplished and respected interpreter of many diverse styles of Cuban music. In Cuba, he rose to fame performing with the late Compay Segundo, one of the vocalists featured in Buena Vista Social Club. Since moving to the United States, he founded the Latin Grammy-nominated folkloric group Raices Habaneras and has worked with many top artists including Paquito D'Rivera, Cachao, Willie Chirino, Marc Anthony, and Johnny Pacheco.
a veteran of the New York Jazz and Latin scenes, has recorded and performed with artists such as Celia Cruz, The Talking Heads, Tito Puente, Machito, Marc Anthony, Nelson Gonzalez, The Chicago Symphony, and the Jet Set Six. Currently, Steve performs with a variety of New York bands including the Ray Barretto Orchestra and Jimmy Bosch's Salsa Dura.
has performed and recorded with many major artists, including Albita, The Gypsy Kings, Celia Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Ismael Miranda, Larry Harlow, and Arturo Sandoval.
has performed and taught guitar in Argentina, Brazil, and Israel for over 20 years.
He currently co-leads Pan Con Timba and Son de Madre and plays with many New York artists including Retumba, Junior Vega, Yosvanny Terry and Mo Guajiro.
a native of Panama, has performed with many major figures in Salsa and Latin jazz, including Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Bosch, Juan Carlos Formell, Albita, Danilo Perez, and Gilberto Santarosa.
is very active on the New York Latin and Jazz scenes and has been featured in Downbeat.
She has performed and recorded with Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, the late Cab Calloway, Abbey Lincoln, Geri Allen, Pasión, Bobby Sanabria, the Flying Neutrinos (where she recorded with Doc Cheatham), and Jon Hendricks.