DESCARGA and ALMEIDA GIRL

Three years, over one hundred venues, festivals, shows, clubs, parties and now their debut album Llanita. Almeida Girl and Descarga are on an awesome adventure, pushing their music as far as they can.

The 9-piece band from Manchester have created a new Latin sound. English and Spanish lyrics intertwine over some seriously heavy grooves, while the horns fill it all out with blazing riffs, mambos and solos. You can hear why Jazz FM DJ Mike Chadwick described them as "at the cutting edge of the British salsa scene".

The band have played sell out shows in music venues and theatres up and down the country. These included Salford's Lowry theatre, The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen and to an audience of 1200 people in the Hall for Cornwall.

Descarga -featuring Almeida Girl - have developed their reputation as exciting and live show. On stage, Almeida Girl is one of those rare performers who can captire audiences hearts and minds (she is also a damn fine dancer) whilst the band is packed full of incredible improvisers.

As the new album comes hot off the press Almeida Girl and Descarga are in the middle of writiing their next album and are currently planning tours of Ireland and Spain.

The band are:

Almeida Girl - Vocals

Matt Owens - Bass

Underpinning the groove with the low frequencies of his stick bass, Mr Owens is co-songwriter/arranger and band musical director. He has also toured the UK with hip hop outfit AIM and is a regular on the north west's jazz and latin scenes.

Andzrej Baranek - Piano

As well as being one of the most gifted jazz pianists in the north west, young Baranek can bang out a mean montuno. He also leads the Andzrej Baranek trio showcasing his own compositions and nimble be bop fingers.

Rick Weedon - Timbales/Kit

A "force of nature" behind any percussion instrument, Mr Weedon drives the band with his propulsive timbale playing. Rick is also member of Inner Sense and has played with the Casa Latina All-stars, Alma Del Barrio, Mambito and Apitos.

Hugh Lawrence - Congas

Also in the rhythm section engine room is the man with tiny hands but a HUGE sound - Hugh Lawrence. He's no slouch behind a kit either and can be found playing with the cream of Manchester's jazz musicians.

Atholl Ransome - Tenor Sax/Flute/Soprano

One of the fieriest tenor players around, Atholl can also rip it up on flute and soprano. He also writes and records for his own band The Haggis Horns and has been all over the UK and Europe with rock band Cava Cava. "Play hard, party hard" all the way.

Neil Yates - Trumpet

A phenonminal trumpet player - his solo on Grapevine says it all. Neil's impressive C.V. includes work with the Brand New Heavies, Lightning Seeds, Supergrass and Will Young. He is particually proud to to have played with Kate Rusby and Michael McGoldrick.

Jonny Enright - Trombone

This guy has one of the phattest trombone sounds in the country and has worked along side salsa heavyweights such as Jimmy Bosch, Tito Allen, Jack Costanzo, Bobby Matos, Dave Pike and Adalberto Santiago . Mr Enright has had dance floor success with his own band Grupo X.

For further info and bookings, please contact; Salsa Direct:

info@salsadirect.co.uk or 0208 808 4290