The Chembo Corniel Quintet live at the Artists Collective

GRAMMY NOMINATED Percussionist Wilson “Chembo” Corniel, Jr. studied music at The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in New York City, Pastore Music in New Jersey, and also attended La Escuela National de Arte (ENA) in Havana, Cuba in 1997 and 1999 under the direction of Chucho Valdez, Chembo taught at Purchase College, Drummer’s Collective in NYC. Chembo had the pleasure of working/touring and or recording with many artists such as Chucho Valdes, Larry Harlow, Tito Puente, Machito, Celia Cruz, Grady Tate, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Willie Colon, Angela Bofill, Steve Wilson, Ray Vega, Buddy Montogmery, Bob Baldwin, Chico Freeman and many more. Chembo leads his own Latin Jazz quintet since October 2001 and has landed a nomination from the 52nd NARAS GRAMMY AWARDS for the cd “Things I Wanted To Do” for "BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM" 2010. Chembo Corniel also endorses Latin Percussion (LP) products, REMO Heads, Vic Firth Sticks and Sabian Cymbals. This is a free concert generously funded by the Eveyln W. Preston Memorial Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Nigel Bello is an 18-year-old trombonist from Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Nelson Bello, introduced him to the trombone at the age of 6, and he has shared the stage with musicians such as Zaccai and Luques Curtis, Nat Reeves, Gary Bartz, Steve Davis, etc. Nigel has been playing for almost 13 years and has studied with Steve Davis, Dr. Emmett Goods, and Hommy Ramos, just to name a few. He has attended numerous music camps, such as Litchfield Jazz Camp, Newport Jazz Camp, and New England Music Camp, all with provided scholarships. In July 2023, he flew to France with the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s Jazz Orchestra as their second-chair trombone. Nigel has also played in many professional settings, such as opening the Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series and the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, as well as accompanying musicians such as Michael Stuart, Frankie Ruiz Jr., Johnny Rivera, Nino Segarra, and many others. He is now attending Berklee College of Music on a full-tuition scholarship continuing his musical journey.

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