Biography of the Latin-Jazz Coalition

The Latin-Jazz Coalition was founded in 1986 by award winning trombonist/ composer Demetrios Kastaris based in Queens, New York. The ensemble was created in order to perform original compositions using rhythmic and improvisatory elements which blend authentic Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and traditional American Jazz music. The original group was made up of six musicians, but today the band performs with ten to twelve steady members. On occasion the ensemble does special projects and concerts with guest performers which can make the group number up to twenty or twenty-four musicians.

Some of the rhythms typically used by the Latin-Jazz Coalition include the Rumba Guaguancó, Son-Montuno, Bembé, Guajira, Mozambique, Cha-cha-chá, Songo, Danzón, Bolero, Samba, Partido Alto, Bossa Nova, Swing, Blues, and Be-bop Jazz.

The Latin Jazz Coalition has performed at a number of cultural festivals, colleges, public libraries, and conferences in and around New York. Many of these concerts were made possible through grants from the Queens Council on the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council on the Arts, and the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts.

After fourteen years of doing live performances in order to develop their unique sound, concept, and musical style, the Latin-Jazz Coalition released its debut compact disk recording entitled “Trombón con Sazón” (Trombone with Spice) on July 15, 2000. The record release performance took place at the elegantly redesigned theater at Flushing Town Hall in Queens, New York. Soon after the long-awaited debut release of “Trombón con Sazón” the ensemble earned much critical acclaim and accolades from both Latin music and Jazz critics and in reviews throughout the world. “Trombón con Sazón” was placed in various top spots in the Top 20 Hit Parade Poll in Latin Beat Magazine for 16 consecutive months beginning in August of the year 2000. The recording was placed in the number one spot in February of 2001 in New York City by Vicki Solá of radio station WFDU 89.1 FM.

The Latin-Jazz Coalition has performed at the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty for the Hispanic Day Ethnic Celebration in New York City, the Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington D.C. hosted by the United States Army Band, Flushing Town Hall and many others. They have provided musical entertainment at formal events honoring former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman. As an ensemble they have performed in live concerts with such Grammy Award winners, Latin Jazz luminaries, and legends as, Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Claudio Roditi, Steve Turre, Edy Martinez, Alfredo de la Fé, Oscar Hernández (leader of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra), Herman Olivera, Ray Vega, Vitín Avilés, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, and others.

Biography of Demetrios Kastaris

Demetrios Kastaris was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1959. When he was only two and a half years old his family moved to the United States. After living in Lorain Ohio for a few years they settled in the up-beat Jazz town of St. Louis, Missouri where Demetrios was raised.

While only in the third grade of elementary school Demetrios’s class was called into the school gymnasium to hear a live performance of a Classical quintet. The presentation included a demonstration of the slide trombone by a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. At that precise moment in time Demetrios became totally fascinated and enamored by the trombone! The deep resonant timbre and unique mechanical design of the instrument is what drew him to it with such powerful magnetism. Shortly thereafter Demetrios began taking trombone lessons and playing in the elementary school concert band.

As Demetrios grew up in St. Louis he listened to many different styles of music including Swing & Bebop Jazz, Blues, Gospel, R & B, Pop, Classical Music, Chamber Music, Byzantine Music and ethnic music from all around the world. He was able to attend live concerts of many great artists and orchestras in all of these genres. Demetrios enjoyed listening to and analyzing all of this inspiring music.

Demetrios took private lessons and practiced his trombone diligently at home for countless hours after school and during the summer as he continued to grow up. At only the age of seventeen Demetrios was given the opportunity to rehearse with the very legendary Stan Kenton Jazz Orchestra. A year later he was the featured soloist on the Classical Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto for trombone and full Concert Band at Affton High School. While still only his final year at Affton Demetrios began performing in the University of Missouri/ St. Louis Jazz Ensemble. Demetrios was awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award just before he graduated High School. He then went on to major in Music Education at the University of Missouri/St.Louis. There he played in the Jazz ensemble which won a number of Jazz Festival Competitions throughout the Mid-West.

After two years at U.M.S.L. Demetrios moved to New York City where he received a merit-based scholarship to attend New York University and pursue his musical dreams. While at N.Y.U. a band leader saw him carrying his trombone case on the subway and invited him to a rehearsal where Demetrios was given the opportunity to perform Afro-Cuban Jazz arrangements for the very first time.

Demetrios became enthralled with this exciting multi-faceted, poly-rhythmic music and began attending the concerts of Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri and other masters of Latin music. He began transcribing and analyzing the recordings of these luminaries. Demetrios finished his studies in Music Education at N.Y.U. with high academic honors and then went on to get a Masters Degree in Jazz performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.

He taught instrumental music in the New York City public schools while playing in one of the dance bands at the Concord Resort Hotel in the Catskill Mountains in up-state New York during the summer and on weekends. While at the Manhattan School of Music Demetrios performed in concerts behind Jazz legends such as Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Phil Woods, Jon Faddis, and Red Rodney. During the same time period Demetrios got to meet legendary Jazz trombonist and conch shell player Steve Turre who was one of his classmates at the Manhattan School of Music.

During his long career Demetrios has performed on stage with such stellar legendary Latin artists which include Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow (El Judío Maravilloso), Dave Valentin, Alfredo de la Fé, Conjunto Libre, La Herencia Latina, Junior González, Paquito Guzmán, Claudio Roditi, Steve Turre, Edy Martinez, Oscar Hernández (director of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra), Herman Olivera, Vitín Avilés, Ray Vega, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, Johnny Colon, Puchi Colon, Graciela, Cándido, Charlie Palmieri, Chico Alvarez, Miguel Garcia, Nicky Marrero, Angel Rodriguez and Friends, Luisito Quintero and others.

In September of 1986 while half way through his master’s degree Demetrios decided to found the Latin-Jazz Coalition and record several of his original compositions in the genres of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Jazz. The demo tape that they produced earned the ensemble performance grants from the Queens Council on the Arts and thus the Latin-Jazz Coalition was born. Later, Demetrios became known in the circles of Latin music and Latin Jazz as “El Griego Rumbero”.

On Friday, September 21, 2001, Demetrios was invited to the Flushing Town Hall theater in Queens, New York to play a trombone solo of “Amazing Grace” accompanied by pianist Wesley Reynoso. The then Executive Director of Flushing Town Hall Jo-Ann Jones chose this song because she wanted to begin the concert with a spiritual selection due to the 9/11 tragedy that had just happened the week before. When Demetrios finished his solo, 10-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri and his orchestra came on stage and performed a Latin Jazz music concert.

In June of 2010 Demetrios and his wife Hilda Kastaris founded the Christian Latin Orchestra Conjunto Katharí which recorded the debut CD “Te Exaltamos con Trombones” (We Exalt You With Trombones). Conjunto Katharí  means pure and clean music ensemble. www.kathari.org

In September of 2016 Kastaris was invited to be a sole presenter at Cuba’s very first Summit of Trombonists (“Cumbre de Trombonistas”). Forty-two trombone players participated in the conference held at the historic Rehearsal Hall of the National Band (El Local de Ensayos de la Banda Nacional) in Havana. The trombonists that took the class included conservatory professors and professional players. What an honor for Demetrios!

During the conference Demetrios taught from his book “The Kastaris Trombone Method” a 210 page instruction manual which received critical acclaim from very well-known trombonists including Jazz icon Steve Turre. The organizer in Cuba for this event was master trombonist Antonio Leal Rodríguez. Professor Rodríguez who served as the event coordinator/ administrator was the last trombonist in the legendary Beny Moré Orchestra.

The five and a half hour trombone conference culminated with a concert and the entire day was a huge success! A dream come true. The highlight of my Demetrios’s teaching career.

In February of 2017 Kastaris received The Premios Latinos Fama Award from Univisión and Telemundo “Trayectoria Musical en Salsa”, (Musical Trajectory in Salsa).

In November of 2018 Kastaris was once again invited to Havana in order to rehearse and perform a concert of music that he had composed in dedication to the very gifted and talented trombonists of Cuba. Twenty-four trombonists performed the concert with a rhythm section of piano, bass, congas, timbales, bongos and güiro. It was such a privilege for Kastaris to work with these extraordinary musicians. One of his compositions was entitled “Trombo-Cubanos Destacados” (The High Achieving Cuban Trombonists). Another composition he wrote was “Trombonista Genial, Carismatico Leal” (Genius, Charismatic, Loyal Trombonist Leal) dedicated to his dear friend Profesor Antonio Leal Rodríguez. The musical arrangements for Demetrios’s original compositions were done by pianist and Spanish Harlem Orchestra director Oscar Hernández who has won four Grammy Awards.

Later in the week Kastaris was invited to perform with Los Leales de Cuba at the Buena Vista Curry Club. He was also invited to a rehearsal of the world-famous trend setting percussion, vocal and dance ensemble: Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. That was a very special memorable afternoon for Demetrios. They invited him to join in with them on cowbell, claves and chekeres on rhythms that included the Bembé (Afro-Cuban 6/8), Rumba Columbia and Rumba Guaguancó. Demetrios had the honor sharing with them and teaching them the folkloric Greek Kalamatianó a rhythm in 7/8 time. The trips to Cuba were very special for Kastaris.

On March 16, 2024 Demetrios Kastaris was inducted into the Spanish Harlem Salsa Museum by Executive Director Johnny Cruz. His photograph and a poster of The Latin Jazz Coalition were mounted on the museum wall next to the photographs of legendary stars such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Larry Harlow, the Fania All Stars, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and many more. Kastaris’ childhood trombone from 1969 was added to the exhibit on March 30, 2024. The Museum is on Lexington Avenue at 107^th Street in East Harlem, Manhattan New York and is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Entrance to the museum is free of charge. The photographs will also be put on display in the Salsa Museum in Puerto Rico and in Washington D.C..

In September of 2024 Demetrios was invited by trumpeter/ composer/ multi-instrumentalist David Rios to become part of Project Psalm 105 (a Christian Salsa orchestra). Demetrios began making trips from New York to Los Angeles and other parts of California in order to do concerts.