Francisco ("Junior") Medina Jr. - Junior grew up listening to classic bands such as Conjunto Clasico, El Gran Combo, Fania All-Stars, and Willie Rosario.  His career in music spans 25 years and includes sharing the stage many top artists including; Tito Puente, Pink Martini, Sonora Dimanita, Oscar De Leon, Lalo Rodriguez and Sonora Carruseles.  Junior performs locally with Tumbao and Expression Latina.  Currently working on several projects, including the new band MA-TAM-BO, Junior continues to expand his repertoire to include country, ska, folk, hip-hop, jazz, and zydeco.  “I am, and I always will be, a student of my instrument."

Pedro Vargas - Born in Havana and inspired by the great Cuban percussionists Changuito and Tatagüines, Pedro began playing conga when he was just eight years old. In 1997, he joined the Piquete Cubano and started touring with Barbarito Torres of “Buena Vista Social Club" fame.  Pedro recorded two albums with Barbarito, including “Havana Café” and the Grammy nominated self-titled “Barbarito Torres.” Pedro has toured worldwide with Barbarito Torres and timba legends, Los Van Van, performing in North and South America, Europe and Asia.  Pedrito formed Grupo Ashé in 2008,

Mikaela "La Miki" Romero - Mikaela began singing at an early age and is currently one of the most exciting young female voices in Seattle.  After completing her studies at Cornish College of the Arts, she started performing with the local Brazillian band Batuque.  Mikaela performs locally with several groups and her repetoire ranges from the sultry sounds of bossa nova from Brazil to the scorching sonida of timba.

Andy Zadrozny - Andy plays a lot of bass in a lot of bands including; principal bass in the Federal Way Symphony, the classical Arabic band House of Tarab, and the Klezmer band "Kugel."   In addition, he plays with several local latin bands including "Orquestra Nueva Era" and "Espression Latina."  Andy also teaches bass and ear training in his Pioneer Square studio in downtown Seattle.  He is about to release two books on music education; a primer on technique titled the "Basic Principles of Bass" and "On Opening the Third Ear," a collection of esoteric teachings on musical ear training.  

Chris Stover - Chris is one of the most innovative trombonists and composers on the creative music scene today.  He leads the exciting quintet More Zero as well as the Chris Stover Quartet and the twelve-piece Acquired Involuntary Narcissism.  Chris performs regularly with Frieze of Life, Sonando, the James Knapp Orchestra, Quake, Quasi Nada, and many others.  He has toured in the US, Canada, South America, Europe, and Africa with, among others, Pablo Moses and Apple Gabriel.  Chris appears on over thirty recordings, and his compositions have been performed in the US, Europe, and Japan. 

All rights reserved (2008).

Galen Green - Galen studied at the Cornish College of the Arts with noted artists Hadley Caliman, Julian Priester, James Knapp, Chuck Deardorf, Dave Peck, Randy Halberstadt, and Margie Pos. He has worked as a bandleader for Celebrity Cruises and a showband musician for Paramount Entertainment and American West Steamboat Company. Galen currently resides in Seattle and performs in several groups, composes music, and teaches saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Recent notable performances include appearances with The Four Tops, The Temptations, Giovanni Hidalgo, Tito Puente, Jr. and Joe Santiago. 

Edsson Otero -   Edsson was born in Lima, Peru.  He started playing congas at an early age and has become one of the most in demand percussionists in Seattle.  Performing locally with several of the best known latin bands, including Latin Expression, Cambalache, and Tumbao, Edsson brings an explosive energy to the stage and beyond.  As conga player for Grupo Ashé, Edsson brings this energy and excitement to the group's live performances and its true sabor de timba.    

Edson "Eddie" Rodriguez -  Eddie was born in Lima, Peru.  He began his musical career at an early age and performs with several local latin bands, including Latin Expression and Grupo Ashé. A long time fan of timba, Eddie captures the elusive "timba swing" in his renditions of "El Temba" and "Locos Por Mi Habana" on Ashé's debut demo "Recuerdos de mi Habana."  Check out his blog on all things timba, "Timba Chronicals" at: http://blog.eddierumba.com

Miguel Báez -  Miguel was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Immersed in the rich musical tradition of Puerto Rico from birth, including the genres of plena, bomba and salsa, Miguel has performed with many of Seattle's best known salsa bands.  An original member of Nueva Era and Latin Expression, Miguel most recently worked on a project recorded in Medellín, Colombia in collaboration with Diego Gale’s musicians.

Peter Green - After completing his studies in composition at Arizona State University, Peter enjoyed a successful freelance music career.  Well known for his sound, musicality, and ability excel in many genres, Peter has built and operated a mid sized recording studio and maintains an active career composing and arranging for local groups and organizations.  Since moving to Seattle, Peter has become one of the most in demand trumpet players and has performed with many great artists on the local latin, jazz, and classical music scenes.

Carlos Cascante - Carlos grew up in a family of musicians in Liberia, Costa Rica.  In 1996, he joined the well established folkloric group Grupo Lo Nuestro lead by Fernell López.  After arriving in Seattle, Carlos sang with local salsa band Nueva Era and has shared a stage with several renowned salsa and jazz stars including Lalo Rodríguez, Maelo Ruiz, Héctor Tricoche, Larry Harlow, and Joe Santiago.  He has recorded with Latin Expression in collaboration with Diego Gale’s musicians and with local jazz group Tumbao.  

This is Ashé,

the contemporary cuban music revolution!

ashé is life, existence, essence, power, energy, vigor, force, vitality, cause and effect, grace, knowledge, wisdom, experience;

ashé is all.

Alex Chadsey - Alex began playing piano at age 7 and has established himself as a first-call sideman for many of the finest latin, jazz, pop, and classical performers in the Pacific Northwest. Noteworthy engagements include: Seattle’s Folklife Festival with Children of the Revolution; Benaroya Hall at a private event featuring former president Bill Clinton; UW Meany Theater with Joe Santiago and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra; and Experience Music Project (EMP) at the inaugural gala of American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music. Alex has performed with Edsel Gomez, Doug Beavers, Conjunto Afinque, Layla Angulo, Bochinché, Alicia Murillo, Beth Winter and many others.