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!!Ritmo Tradicional!! This group was formerly known as The Mambo Combo.
COMBO SABROSO ("tasty combo") was formed during the summer of 1998 when band leader, pianist/vocalist, Matt Jenson, then living in Portsmouth, NH, made a decision to pursue a much deeper understanding of this music that he loves so much. He assembled the best Latino musicians he could find in Boston and got a weekly gig for the group...and the rest, for the Seacoast, NH area, is....HISTORY!
The group has since been playing to packed houses, private parties, weddings in Boston, Maine, Western Mass and New Hampshire. They have twice received the Portsmouth Herald's (NH) reader's poll award as "Best World Music Band."
Combo Sabroso is primarily a LATIN DANCE BAND and list as their main influences the ensembles of Latin piano icon Eddie Palmieri and the grand percussionist, Tito Puente. In fact Jenson studied with Palmieri and maintains a friendship with the Maestro and works extensively with Mr. Palmieri's timbale player, Jose Claussell. With influences such as these you can bet that the group remains committed to the deeper side of the idiom.....it's SOUL CLEANSING LATIN DANCE MUSIC!!
They follow in the tradition of these venerated maestros by incorporating their formula of layering exciting jazz solos over relentless, energetic dance rhythms. Their repertoire includes compositions that range in style from Cha Cha to Danzon, from Bolero to Salsa, from Latin jazz to Plena. Jenson, who now lives in Boston and teaches piano and a class on Bob Marley at Berklee College of Music, incorporates his blues and reggae influences by bringing Latin dance arrangements of various American R&B and Jamaican reggae tunes to the Afro-Cuban table.
Combo Sabroso features, from Costa Rica, Manolo Miarena, a well known percussionist and singer who has performed
internationally with La Timba Loca, the Latin Party Boys and pianist Rafael Alcala. Performing on timbales and vocals, from
Venezuela is Ernesto Diaz. Known for his enthusiastic and animated performance style has been a mainstay in the Boston
Latin music scene for 20 years and is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music. Peruvian bassist and singer Alex Alvear,
is also an anchor of the Latin music scene in Boston and NYC and is known for his organic and infectious tumbao (groove) and
amazing vocal work. He leads his own group, Mango Blue and has performed with many internationally known Latin artists including
Paquito D'Rivera. On horns, Combo Sabroso presents trombonist Angel Subero and saxophonist
Matt Langley. Angel is an internationally known classical bass trombonist who has performed with nearly every major symphony in the world,
and moonlights as an energetic (to say the least!) Salsa and Latin Jazz trombonist. Matt Langley's relentless and soulful tenor playing is well-known throughout New England and especially
in his recorded work with the Charlie Kohlhase Quintet is sublime.
At any one performance you may see a cross-section of the core band members listed above and:
Combo Sabroso performs Chocolate Ice Cream (by Eddie Palmieri)
MP3 Demo Selections   
Combo Sabroso performss Dizzie Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia"
Combo Sabroso performs Oscar D'Leon's "Ven Morena" |
