The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet was formed in April of 1998 and has been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest with their renditions of classic and original Latin Jazz ever since. Voted Madison's Favorite Jazz Band three years in a row by the "Isthmus Readers Poll" (2001, 2002 and 2003), The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet continues to impress and entertain audiences wherever they play.
The band's tight sound has been honed by over five years worth of weekly Sunday night gigs at the Cardinal Bar in Madison, WI. The Tony Castañeda Latin Sextet Band has been a favorite at the Isthmus Jazz Festival, Live at Five and many other fine venues in the area. The band has also performed and demonstrated Latin music for a number of public schools in an effort to expose more people to this great idiom.
The Tony Castañeda Latin Sextet Band has performed with some of the international stars of Latin jazz. Grammy award winning trumpeter/percussionist Jerry Gonzalez of the Fort Apache Band, Grammy award winning Cuban Percussionist Roberto Viscaino of the Chucho Valdez Group, and Orlando "Maraca" Valle and several members of his group. In fall of 2001, the Band invited New York vocalist Carolyn Leonhard of the Steely Dan Group to join the LJQ for their Madison's Isthmus Jazz Festival appearance. She's been back several times and has been adopted as the "Official Singer of the Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Band". The Band has also opened for and played with a number of famous Latin Jazz musicians including Tito Puente, conguero virtuoso Giovani Hidago and his group, Los Munequitos, bassist Johnny Benitez and his group, John Santos and Omar Sosa, Poncho Sanchez, members Los Lobos and the band War...to name a few.
The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet pays homage to and performs Latin jazz classics from the 40's to contemporary times, including the music of Chano Pozo Gonzalez, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos "Patato" Valdez, Benny More, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, Ruben Gonzales and of course, Tito Puente. A small group jazz approach is used but danceability is maintained at all times. The Band's growing popularity and ability to please listening audiences as well as those who would prefer to cha-cha-cha is a testament to their unique sound and their great love for Latin music.
