YESKA

The pride of L.A's Eastside Yeska - who began as a haphazardly formed ensemble for a high school talent show, is on the melodic move, so be warned.

With the release on Aztlan Records of their premier cd -- SKAFROCUBANJAZZ -- Yeska debuts on the global scene with their expanded world beat. Rooted in Cuban Jazz and Jamaican Ska, these young musicians honed the vibrant styles of their native Los Angeles for a modern if not revolutionary new sound. Part ska? Part jazz? Yes.

Yeska cordially invites the ska fan, the jazz fan and the world beat crowd to get busy to the delicious, tight horns of Seth Zwerling - trumpet, David Urquidi - saxophones (who is currently playing for latin jazz great, Poncho Sanchez), Sheffer Bruton - trombone (currently with Ozomatli), the rock-steady guitar riffs of Joey Kraut and the full-funk of bassist Jose Esquivel. Welcome as well, the piano wonder Walter Miranda (who is drumming live with Monterrey's Plastilina Mosh), drum-god Alfredo Ortiz (who has toured the world with such bands as The Beastie Boys and The Offspring) and guest musician, conguero, Giovanni Valdes.

The young, upcoming musicians in Yeska have come very far in a short span of time. With their origins rooted in the East L.A. music scene, the band broke both music and cultural barriers by being the first of their kind, L.A. Latin-hip kids, to play Hollywood venues such as Luna Park, The Viper Room and the Dragonfly.

Since then, Yeska has conquered every major venue in Los Angeles including the prestigious House of Blues and Universal Amphitheater.

While opening for such acts a Tito Puente, WAR, Celia Cruz, Hepcat, Let's go Bowling and The Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

Yeska was called upon by "Hollywood" when the Showtime Channel used the cut "Fideo" as the theme song of the Latino Laugh Festival, hosted by Cheech Marin.

SKAFROCUBANJAZZ is Yeska's eloquent and original contribution to today's Latinization of ska. Ska originated in Jamaica in the early '60's, immigrants carried the 2nd wave of the genre to England in the '70s, the 3rd wave introduced ska to the United States in the '80s, the 4th wave (or "4th Generation" as Yeska entitles the second track on SKAFROCUBANJAZZ) is today's fusion of ska with a distinctly Latin lyrical and musical flavor.