Musicians
Steve Guasch was raised in Santa Juanita, Bayamon, Puerto Rico and started playing music at age 15. Steve relocated to Washington State in 1987 after serving the US Army, he started a band in FT Lewis called Orquesta Sensacion and started playing in the local scene with local bands like Orquesta La Clave, Sabor Tropical, Latin Expression
In 1991 he moved to Portland, OR where he had the oportunity to produce his first CD "Canto Mi Corazon" with Manuela y La Mayor Salsa in 1996. In 1997 Steve moved back to Seattle and formed Steve Guasch y Su Orquesta Nueva Era. In 2006 formed Salsaneo Records and released "Siguiendo La Tradicion" with guest artists Paoli Mejias, Ray Vega and Nachito Herrera and arrangements from Ray Santos, Nachito Herrera and Oscar Hernandez.
This CD received great reviews worldwide and featured the piano work of Julio Jauregui as well as the vocal talent of Eddie Quintero and Danny Olaizola. In 2009 Steve released Guaschara "Influencias" to great reviews. Steve partnered with composer, arranger and pianist Julio Jauregui which provided the arrangements as well as most of the compositions featuring Joe De Jesus on Vocals as well as guest venezuelan artists Marcial Isturiz on Vocals, Eliel Rivero on Trombone, Jose Soto Mortadelo on Bass, Will Martin on Trombone, Jeff Norwood on Bass, Carlos Cascante, Miguel Baez Eddie Quintero and Arlene Perez on back up vocals.
In Spring of 2010 Steve partners with Francisco Requena and Eliel Rivero to form Salsaneo Records de Venezuela with the mission of delivering to the world some of the best salsa music being produced in Venezuela.
Eddie following his love for Latin music started a music group called Bochinche. With them he recorded 4 music albums and performed over 3,000 live concerts in 10 years. He also dedicates his time to being the MC for many events, such as: The Bite of Seattle, Cinco de Mayo, Hispanic Sea-fair and Fiestas Patrias. Presenting Internationally known artists including Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Oscar D'Leon, and Grupo Niche among others. In 2006 Eddie recorded "Aqui Te Traigo Sabrosura" and "Busquenla" with Steve Guasch y su Orquesta Nueva Era receiveing rave reviews worldwide.
Puertorrican Joshuah "Joe" De Jesus father is from Puerto Rico and his mother is from Venezuela, they guided Joe from an early age to follow their lead, Carla Bosch his a season singer. Joe's brother Jeremy also recorded in "Influencias" and is already pursuing a solo career as a Jazz flutist. Joe's father introduced him to salsa and drumming. Joe started his music career when he join Steve Guasch y su Orquesta Nueva Era as a substitute conga player. The opportunity to sing came as a result of one of the lead singers departure from the band, Joe audition to be a back up singer, immediatly Steve recognized that Joe could deliver much more than that and invites Joe to be the lead singer in his new project Guaschará "Influencias". His work exceeded all expectations and delivered his unique style and sonero style. Joe will be featured in Nueva Era's new CD along with Eddie Quintero, Moises D'Aubeterre, Edgar Dolor Quijada and Angel De Jesus.
Julio Jauregui (piano) was born in Baton Rouge, LA and grew up in Mexico City. His mother, Mireya Lopez, also a pianist, instilled in him a passion for music. Julio’s musical education began at age 6 at Artene, a school which focuses on rhythmic structures in a group format. He studied at the National School of Music with a focus on percussion, studying with Julio Villegas and performing with the National Symphony Orchestra.
In 1990, Julio moved to Eugene, OR, attending Lane Community College and later the University of Oregon, where he finished his music degree. There he studied jazz piano with Gary Versace and jazz improvisation with Steve Owen. In Eugene, Julio directed the salsa band Caliente, and collaborated on original compositions for Caliente’s recording “Voces Morenas”. He also played with “Saundunga” and “Combination to Go”, the latter a collaboration with Santana’s drummer, Mingo Lewis. Julio moved to Seattle in 1997, later becoming musical director of both Latin Expression and Matices, and co-founding Cambalache.
Julio has recorded with Children of the Revolution, Guil Guimares, Jeff Busch, Nueva Era and others. He performed with Giovanni Hidalgo, Joe Santiago, Pablito “El Indio” Rosario and others in Joe Santiago’s Salsa All Stars concert in 2003. He has also performed with Adalberto Santiago, David Pabón, Hector Tricoche and Lalo Rodriguez.
In 2001 he co-founded Tumbao, a latin sextet, with singer and long-time friend Carlos Cascante. Tumbao affords them the freedom to experiment with many avenues and types of performances; Tumbao’s recording, “Recuerdos” features that versatility.
Gonzalo Rafael Palacios Arteaga, nació el 15 de junio de 1962 en San "José de Río Chico, Estado Miranda, Gonzalo se ha destacado en el ambiente musical como instrumentista, arreglista y productor. Sus primeros inicios en la música se dieron cuando recibía clases de música como materia obligatoria en la Escuela Primaria Jardín Franciscano. Desde entonces surge en él la pasión por el arte, y comienza estudiar música formalmente. Realiza sus estudios profesionales en la Escuela Superior de Música "José Ángel Lama", tomando el trombón como especialidad. Más adelante, incursiona en el género de la salsa, abriéndose paso como trombonista en el año 1986, al formar parte de La Orquesta de Oscar D’León en su Nueva Dimensión.
En lo posterior, se dedica a hacer presentaciones con diferentes orquestas venezolanas, dándose a conocer ampliamente y por ende comienza a ser tomado en cuenta por agrupaciones extranjeras.
En el año 1988, Gonzalo Palacios, es contratado por el grupo colombiano “Niche”, grabando en la producción “Sutil y Contundente”(1989) y "Cielo de Tambores"(1990), con esta agrupación realiza presentaciones en Europa, Estados Unidos y varios países latinoamericanos. En 1992, ingresa a la Orquesta "Guayacán", también de Colombia, donde graba el trombón en las producciones “Con el corazón abierto”(1993) y “A puro golpe”(1994). Es para este entonces cuando Gonzalo, comienza a destacarse como productor y arreglista.
En el año 1994, viaja a Nueva York para ampliar sus conocimientos en la Universidad de Blooklyn, donde tuvo la oportunidad de relacionarse con afamados exponentes del jazz y la salsa.
Años más tarde, reside en México, país que representó un escalón muy importante en su vida pues le dio el privilegio de compartir experiencias gratificantes con grandes músicos de diversos géneros, lo cual le ayudó a enriquecer sus conocimientos musicales. Su paso por ese país, representó también un cúmulo de lindas experiencias espirituales y la dicha de conocer a la que hoy en día es su esposa, quien le ha ofrecido motivación y apoyo incondicional en su carrera.
Después de algún tiempo de residir en Estados Unidos, decide regresar a su país natal, Venezuela, para hacer realidad uno de los sueños musicales que había tenido en mente desde hace mucho tiempo, tener su propia orquesta. De esta forma nace “Gonzalo y los príncipes de la salsa”.