Jazz Bands

Rio Negro - Jazz Bands

"Río Negro represents the harmonious marriage of the vigor, freshness and edge of youth with the adeptness, dedication and maturity associated with experience. They combine contemporary vibes with the traditional jazz feel, adding dashes of Latin, funk, and R&B influences to both their original material and their arrangements of standard tunes. The result of this musical potpourri is a sound so catchy and new that you can't help but to be in awe. To put it plainly, these guys are great."
- Beth Perry

Biography
In his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", Langston Hughes wrote, "My soul has grown deep like the rivers." From this beautiful poem comes the name Río Negro pronounced REEOO NAYGRO. Río Negro, a name given to the group by Broderick Santiago, means "Black River" in Spanish. More specifically, the name refers to three skilled musicians who have co-anchored a dynamic group for more than two years playing at various high profile functions around the world.

Kevin "Quino" Johnson (24), who grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, comes from a musically talented family. He is encouraged by his older brother Doron Johnson who plays jazz piano for Wynton Marsalis among others and his father who plays piano in church. Surrounding himself with music of all forms, especially Latin and Caribbean influences, he uses his music as a means of expression, fusing the old with the new and the unexplored. While briefly living in Spain and the Dominican Republic, Johnson studied music and developed his unique writing style. He has shared the stage with such jazz moguls as Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Agustín Díaz de los Muñeuqitos de Matanza, Jon Faddis, Antonio Hart, and George Bohannan.

Broderick Santiago (29), a native of New York, is one of this generation's most talented and versatile entertainers. As a percussionist, Santiago has shared the stage with several great musicians including Jimmy Delgado and Jonathan Butler. As a music educator and dance instructor, Santiago strives to educate people about the African roots prevalent in Latin music.

Melvin Jones (24) possesses a stylistic philosophy, impressive range, and technical facility found among few trumpeters his age. This Memphis, Tennessee native plays with a scintillating sound that evokes the spirit of Dizzy Gillespie. A consummate musician, Jones has shared the stage with such jazz moguls as Quincy Jones, Jon Faddis, Antonio Hart, and George Bohannan. He also appears on TLC's album "Fanmail". Currently, he is in graduate school studying jazz at Rutgers University.

Among other cities, Rio Negro may serve the following areas: Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, Decatur, Norcross, Alpharetta, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Rome, Carrollton, Douglasville, Newnan, Stone Mountain, Buford, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Jonesboro, Lagrange, Roswell, Smyrna, Alto, Acworth, Blairsville, Austell, Canton, Cartersville, Dahlonega