LA MUSICA Y EL GRUPO SuperSones play the sublime music known as Son - the acoustic dance music of the Cuban countryside that inspired modern Salsa. Son is a unique blend of Spanish guitars and harmony, Afro-Cuban percussion and swing, call-and-response singing, and trumpet improvisation. From the 1930's in Havana to the present moment, Cuban septets like SuperSones have inspired people around the world to dance and celebrate. SuperSones represent this rich musical tradition with a wide range of classic and original songs in the many genres within the Son family: bolero, cha cha cha, guaracha, and son montuno among others. The group plays songs written by some of the greatest composers of Cuban popular music including Compay Segundo, Miguel Matamoros, Isaac Oviedo, and Arsenio Rodriguez. SuperSones recreate these songs with their own arrangements and improvisations to bring the Son alive in the Pacific Northwest. The group also regularly features original compositions firmly rooted in the Son tradition. Since 2001, SuperSones have performed for a wide range of audiences. The group frequently plays private functions such as parties, weddings, and corporate events. Depending on the unique needs of each occasion, SuperSones can play in a range of instrumentations from a trio up to a septet. In Seattle, public performances have included the following venues: The Triple Door, Northwest Folklife Festival, Tractor Tavern, Nectar, Mojitos, Seattle Folklore Society, Seattle City Hall, and Seattle Art Museum. In addition, the group has taught workshops and performed at several Seattle area schools, Whitman College in Walla Walla, and the Seattle World Rhythm Festival. In May of 2006, the SuperSones toured Belgium and Holland for two weeks. SuperSones are: Ron Barrow - trumpet Kevin Connor - Cuban tres guitar and vocals Justin Maggart - lead vocals, clave and guiro Alfredo Polier - vocals and maracas Steve Smith - bongo Kevin Stevens - upright bass David Trejo - acoustic guitar and vocals LOS MUSICOS Ron Barrow (trumpet) is a private trumpet instructor and freelance musician in the Seattle area. He earned a BA in Music Education from the University of Washington before going on to work as a professional musician. He currently teaches approximately 40 students a week and plays trumpet professionally playing all styles of music including jazz, classical, and latin music. In addition to the SuperSones, his playing can be heard with such groups as Mango Son, Festival Brass Quintet, and Conjunto Meneo. Kevin Connor (Cuban tres guitar and vocals) has been a professional guitarist, composer and vocalist for over ten years. He has studied the music of Django Reinhardt and the "gypsy jazz" of the 1930's and 40' and is immersed in the thriving Seattle string swing community. He became enamored with the Cuban tres guitar after traveling to the Caribbean to study medicine in the late 1990's. Since then, he has continued to study Cuban Son music and the tres. He currently plays guitar with the gypsy "string-swing" ensembles Hot Club Sandwich and The Djangomatics. Justin Maggart (lead vocals, clave, and guiro) began his relationship with Cuban song on the path of Afro-Cuban folkloric music with the Seattle Folkloric Collective. After his return to Seattle from the Caribbean in early 2000, Justin played percussion and sang with two local Latin music groups - The Alma Villegas Quartet and Mambo 9. He continues to travel and study the roots of Son music and the Cuban tres guitar. Alfredo Polier (vocals and maracas) was born in Holguin, Cuba. He graduated from the Institucion Pedagogico de Holguin with a degree in Musical Education. As a professional solo vocalist he was listed with the Centro Provincial de la Musica "Adolfo Guzman" in Havana. He was Artistic Director of musical and dance productions in several of Havana's major theaters. Also in Havana, Alfredo worked as an instructor in the Centro Nacional de Cultura Comunitaria and the Centro Nacional de Escuelas de Arte, and as assistant director in the Centro Nacional de Superacion de la Ensenanza Artistica. Alfredo relocated to Seattle in 2006. Steve Smith (bongo) is a native of Seattle and a long-time admirer of popular Cuban music. He began to study Cuban percussion, music and dance in the mid 70's at Washington State University while earning a degree in Spanish language and literature. He has performed in recent years with Son de Cinco a Siete, Los Nietos del Son, Conjunto Meneo and Orchestra Zarabanda. Kevin Stevens (upright bass) began his career as a classical and jazz bassist in Los Angeles. After earning his Master's degree in music composition, he lived for several years in New Orleans and New York City, performing with many world-class musicians. Since returning to the West Coast, he has established himself in the Seattle jazz and ethnic music communities. He is a member of the Seattle-based groups Balkanarama, Billet-Deux, and the Djangomatics. David Trejo (acoustic guitar and vocals) was born and raised in Mexico City. He studied guitar at Escuela de Iniciacion Artistica, D.F., and Escuela de Musica, Universidad De Guadalajara. From 1977-79, David toured Mexico playing guitar and charango with the folkloric dance troupe Tenayo. David arrived in Seattle in the 1980's and founded two Mexican ensembles - Los Huitlacoches and Los Nopalitos. Having been enamored with Cuban music since his youth, he traveled to Cuba several times to study and play music. David co-founded the Seattle based Cuban Son groups Son de Cinco a Siete and Los Nietos del Son.