List of descarga musicians

A descarga is an improvised jam session consisting of variations on Cuban music themes, sometimes incorporating elements from other Latin American traditions. Since the 1950s, descargas have enjoyed great popularity in the Latin music community, with many musicians and ensembles attaining international fame due to their descarga performances. This list compiles musicians which are widely considered to have become notable, at least in part, due to their descargas.^[1][2][3]

List

Name	Instrument	Additional roles	Years active[nb 1]	Scene
Johnny Aguiló	percussion	director	2000s	Miami
Rolando Aguiló	trumpet	director	1950s–1970s	Havana, New York
Carlos Arado	trumpet	director	1950s–1960s	Havana
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros	trumpet, flugelhorn	arranger	1950s–2000s	Havana, New York
Armando Armenteros	trumpet		1950s–1960s	Havana
Guillermo Barreto	timbales, drums	director	1950s–1990s	Havana
Ray Barretto	congas	director	1960s–2000s	New York
Cachaíto	double bass	director	1950s–2000s	Havana
Cachao	double bass	director, arranger	1950s–2000s	Havana, Miami, New York
Cándido Camero	congas	director	1950s–2010s	Havana, New York
Bobby Carcassés	trumpet, vocals	director	1950s–2000s	Havana
Roberto Carcassés	piano	arranger	1990s–2010s	Havana
Yoyo Casteleiro	piano	director, arranger	1950s–1960s	Havana
Félix Chappottín	trumpet	director, arranger	1950s–1970s	Havana
Willie Colón	trombone, vocals	director	1960s–present	New York
Sal Cuevas	double bass	director	1970s–2010s	New York
Richard Egües	flute	director, arranger	1950s–2000s	Havana
Leopoldo "Pucho" Escalante	trombone	director	1950s–1990s	Havana
José Fajardo	flute	director, arranger	1950s–1960s	Havana, Miami, New York
Alfredo de la Fé	violin	director, arranger	1970s–present	Havana, New York, Bogotá
Francisco Fellove	vocals	director	1950s–2000s	Havana, Mexico City
Nelson González	tres		1970s–present	New York
Julio Gutiérrez	piano	director, arranger	1950s–1980s	Havana, Miami, New York
Generoso Jiménez	trombone	director, arranger	1950s–1960s, 2000s	Havana, Miami
Kako	timbales		1960s–1970s	New York
Félix “Pupi” Legarreta	violin, flute	director, arranger	1950s–2000s	Havana, New York
Orestes López	piano		1950s–1960s	Havana
Rolando Lozano	flute	director	1950s–1970s	Havana, New York, Los Angeles
Papo Lucca	piano	arranger	1960s–2000s	Ponce
Juanito Márquez	tres	director	1950s–1990s	Havana, Madrid, Miami
Nicky Marrero	timbales		1970s–2000s	New York
Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martínez	güiro	director	1960s–1980s	New York
Chico O'Farrill	trumpet	director, arranger	1950s–1990s	Havana, New York
Johnny Pacheco	flute, güiro	director	1960s–2000s	New York
Charlie Palmieri	piano	director	1950s–1980s	New York
Eddie Palmieri	piano	director	1960s–present	New York
Peruchín	piano	director, arranger	1950s–1970s	Havana
Tito Puente	timbales	director	1950s–1990s	New York
Walfredo de los Reyes	timbales	director	1950s–2000s	Havana, Miami, San Juan
Niño Rivera	tres	director, arranger	1950s–1980s	Havana
Paquito D'Rivera	alto saxophone, clarinet	director, arranger	1970s–2010s	Havana, New York
Charlie Rodríguez	tres	director	1970s–2000s	New York
Alfredo Rodríguez	piano	director	1970s–2000s	Havana, New York, Paris
Barry Rogers	trombone	arranger	1960s–1990s	New York
Arturo Sandoval	trumpet	director, arranger	1970s–2010s	Havana, Miami
Mongo Santamaría	congas, bongos	director	1950s–1990s	Havana, New York
José "Chombo" Silva	tenor saxophone, violin		1950s–1990s	Havana, New York
Tata Güines	congas	director	1950s–2000s	Havana
Néstor Torres	flute	director	1970s–present	New York, Miami
Alfredo Valdés Jr.	piano	director, arranger	1950s–2000s	New York, Los Angeles
Amadito Valdés	timbales		1960s–2010s	Havana
Bebo Valdés	piano	director, arranger	1950s, 1990s–2000s	Havana, Stockholm
Carlos "Patato" Valdés	congas	director	1950s–2000s	Havana, New York
Chucho Valdés	piano	director, arranger	1960s–present	Havana
Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar	trumpet		1950s–1970s	Havana, Miami, New York
Salvador "Bol" Vivar	double bass		1950s–1960s	Havana

Notes

1. Time frames include descarga performances and recordings only.

References

1. Acosta, Leonardo (2000). Descarga cubana: el jazz en Cuba, 1900-1950. Havana, Cuba: Ediciones Unión.
2. Acosta, Leonardo (2002). Descarga número dos: el jazz en Cuba, 1950-2002. Havana, Cuba: Ediciones Unión.
3. Salazar, Max (February 1997). "La Descarga Cubana: The Beginning and Its Best". Latin Beat Magazine. Vol. 7, no. 1. Retrieved October 20, 2015.