FLOR
de
CANA New Directions in Latin Music
Robbie Cree formerly played in the acoustic Latin duo Chispa! and currently plays in the 6-piece Afro-Latin blues ensemble, Ojos Feos. He was also one of the founding musicians of the African rock band Afrodesiac. Being a multi-linguist and multi-instrumentalist he adds musical variety and flavor with Flor de Cana by playing Spanish guitar, mandolin, charango, harmonica and both classical and Andean flute. He has perfomed volunteer work in over 15 different developing countries of which his experiences and exposure to indigenous folk rhythms aids in his origninal compositions He has studied jazz and classical piano and flamenco, bossa nova jazz and blues guitar.
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Dashel Ruiz Perez is a native born Cuban guitarist. He had 9 years of formal training, and in Cuba, he was a University music professor in jazz, classical, rock, bossa nova and flamenco guitar. His virtuosity lends decoration and harmony to accompany other instruments while beautifully filling vocal lines. His solos are improvisational masterpieces which give Flor de Cana compositions their own uniqe sound.
BIOS
Wil Gonzales is a vocalist, bassist, guitarist and composer who moved to Oregon in 2012 from Guatamala. He studied music in his native Cuba and was a popular performer in the streets and clubs of La Habana since he was a youth. He joined Flor de Cana because he felt he had open creativity with his composing and playing and was eager to experiment with the fusion of different styles and instruments, normally not heard together in traditional Latin music.
Dave Fischer is both a drummer and percussionist. After playing drums in a variety of styles with groups in Portland, Oregon, he encountered the world of Latin percussion and was captivated. Dave has lived in and travelled throughout Latin America. Over the following decade Dave played congas, bongos, timbales, and cajon with local Latin artists in groups ranging in size from guitar/cajon duos to 12 piece salsa orchestras. He took some time away from performing while pursuing graduate studies in Psychology and recently returned to Oregon and is, again, enjoying performing.
