latin jazz
Vocals, Percussion & all that jazz
Musical Shape Shifter
Louie Cruz Beltran blends Afro Cuban rhythms with jazz, Latin jazz, pop and R&B influences. Louie is an entertainer at heart – a bandleader who is also a superbly skilled conguero, timbalero and vocalist.
Praise
PerformingArtsLive.com praised Louie’s “…percolating percussion, catchy refrains and fiery arrangements….passion for performing.”
OCWeekly said, “Louie and his band are stunners, mixing Afro-Cuban rhythms and R & B influences that will move and dazzle you…a passion for playing music…check out Beltran’s fiery percussion skills.”
Louie Cruz Beltran at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl...
“….a triumph….a sharp, uncluttered jazz ensemble….choice material deftly translated into Latin grooves.”
Richard Ginnell, Variety
Latest Music
Louie’s critically acclaimed CD, “Paint the Rhythm”, features an all-star line up of some of the most exciting and recognized names in Latin Jazz, including Abraham Laboriel, Poncho Sanchez, Giovani Hidalgo, Hubert Laws, Justo Almario, Peter Michael Escovedo and more. The album spent 12 weeks on the national smooth jazz charts reaching #11, and his single, “Esperando”, climbed to #4.