Dave Samuels has garnered notice for his fresh new sound as well as his skill on the mallet and his approach to the vibraphone and marimba. Although he has recorded and performed with many jazz artists including Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Frank Zappa and Spyro Gyra he most often performs with his band, the Carribean Jazz Project with whom he won a Grammy for the Best Latin Jazz Album in 2003. Samuels also performs with the Double Image band.
Paquito D'Rivera of Cuba began his career as a jazz artist by directing the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna. After a stint with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra, D'Rivera went on to help found and co-direct the innovative musical ensemble Irakere, which received notice for its mixture of rock, jazz, classical and traditional Cuban music. In 2009, he and his band, including a trumpet/trombone player, a bass player, a drummer/percussionist and a piano player, won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.
Arturo O'Farrill performed for many years as a solo jazz musician. He performed with a wide array of artists throughout the U.S. He formed the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra because he felt that the general jazz audience should have more exposure and appreciation of Cuban Jazz. The band received a nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2006 and won the award in 2009. The band preserves much of O'Farrill's father's (Chico O'Farrill) music, and the band plays regularly at Birdland, a well-known New York City nightclub.