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Pepito Montes

An Afro-Cuban Jazz pianist and producer and composer, Pepe Montes won a Latin Grammy on a live recording with Marc Anthony and the best latin artists called Salsa Giants. His best- known compositions include "Cafecito" and "Ajiaco."

Born on January 15, 1986, in Santa Clara, Cuba, Pepito got his start in the mid-2000s working in prominent cuban bands, as the case of Paulo FG. He later migrated to the United States and created his own band and developeding a signature style, bringing the sounds of bebop and afro-cuban back, music of the 40s with a modern approach. Has collaborated with musical greats like Sergio George, Luis Enrique, Jose Alberto el Canario, India and Oscar D' Leon. Montes's best-known work is his debut album with Pepe Montes & His Conjunto.

Famed jazz pianist and composer Pepe Montes was born Jose Antonio Montes on January 15, 1986, in Santa Clara, Cuba. When he was 18 years old, Montes moved with his family to Havana and joined the Paulo FG Orchestra not long after, and then relocated to Miami where he performed with Marc Anthony and Sergio George in the late 2012. Montes went on to join Salsa Giants band in 2012, with whom he recorded ”Live at the Curaçao North Jazz Festival”—one of the most famous in the world.

From 2006 to 2014, Montes performed with prominent latin bands, including those of Chino y Nacho and Jen Carlos Canela, and also directed Albita's Band. He also began working with big producers such as Sergio George and performing for Univision and Telemundo networks around this time. Working as a bandleader, he created two main projects, Montes developing the musical genre known as "afro-cuban"—an ancestral music form from Cuba, distinct for dissonant harmonies and polyrhythms.

Montes is considered one the finest Miami musicians and creators of original Afro-Cuban / Tropical rhythms with jazz in these modern days. His work in the Afro-Cuban Jazz genre includes "Novelesca," "Si, Miami" and "Ajiaco" among other many recordings. Montes own Conjunto, which performs since 2014 is his ensemble masterpiece, affording him scope as both soloist and showman. Montes best-known works from this period include the songs "Cortadito" "Tu Cuerpo" among others.

Awards

Latin Grammy “Salsa Giants”

Pepe Montes Conjunto Invites Everybody to His Cuban Party as well as Ball and Chain Miami

Local musician Pepe Montes Conjunto has recently released two multimedia videos with his band. The videos highlight two songs from his album, Cuban Party Everybody, called “Ya No Sé” and “Tu Destino.”

Pepe Montes Conjunto is looking to use his new album as his musical resume. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, and bandleader who touches many with his music.

“It has been a dream since I started writing some of these songs more than ten years ago”
Pepe Montes Conjunto

Pepe Montes Conjunto Invites Everybody to His Cuban Party as well as Ball and Chain Miami

Pepe Montes Conjunto is looking to use his new album as his musical resume. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, and bandleader who touches many with his music.

“It has been a dream since I started writing some of these songs more than ten years ago”
Pepe Montes Conjunto

Using XStrings Studios Miami to make these videos has made Pepe Montes Conjunto’s dream come true. A big part of this dream was the album cover, which Conjunto says is a call back to vintage Cuban LP soundtrack disks from famous singers, like Benny More and Celia Cruz.

Pepe Montes Conjunto

“It has a red background and the white star patriotic symbols of the Cuban Nation,” said Conjunto. “I visualized most of it and it was created by Lazaro Zaldivar from Genius Art Designs.”

This album gives Conjunto pride because he is an independent, self-sustaining musician with no investors. His fans are his greatest supporters, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Conjunto worked at Ball and Chain Miami since 2015, which is located on Calle Ocho, the heart of Cuban culture. According to Conjunto, Ball and Chain gave his band a live platform and the opportunity to interact with an abundance of people, including musicians, domino players, dancers, and tourists.

“It’s as diverse as Miami gets,” said Conjunto.

This diversity is why he wanted to work at Ball and Chain to begin with. Conjunto contacted Zack Bush, the owner of Ball and Chain, to take advantage of an opportunity to play with the orchestra. Bush came up with the idea to have Conjunto and his band play daily from noon until 6 p.m., in addition to a monthly concert at La Pachanaga.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic put a big pause on Conjunto’s work, including the promotion of his new album.

“I was about to release the best production with Conjunto, and had April 7 planned to have the CD formally presented,” said Conjunto. His plans did not work out the way he wanted them to.

Many businesses are closed due to being deemed nonessential, Ball and Chain Miami included. Many musicians, including Conjunto, are out of jobs and struggling to provide for their families much like people in other industries during this time.

The pandemic is hitting Calle Ocho musicians like Conjunto extra hard because Calle Ocho is a place for tourists, but due to travel restrictions, tourists are currently not allowed to fly here.

“Social distancing affects us all and musicians the most. Musicians nowadays rely on audience support through social media platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and Facebook,” said Conjunto.

This is why Conjunto is inviting everyone to his Cuban Party. He needs your support on his new music now more than ever.

Conjunto is staying positive during this time, hoping that the community will keep his music in conversation. He also believes that soon, everyone will be back on stage at Ball and Chain and the Cuban vibes will fill the streets of Calle Ocho once again.

“This is music that has been inspired on the Calle Ocho vibe,” said Conjunto. “I hope the comeback after the Pandemic ends will be something to remember.”

That comeback starts with supporters. Everyone can view Conjunto’s videos on YouTube and listen to his music on Spotify and iTunes or follow him on Instagram @PepeMontesConjunto.

Pepe Montes is an outstanding young artist and music producer who works different international music genres and plays different instruments specializing in the piano as it was his musical training. He has worked on countless music awards in the United States and recorded with the best artists of Latin music as Marc Anthony, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Sergio George, Wisin y Yandel, Aventura, Prince Royce, Chino y Nacho, Willy Chirino, Albita, Celia Cruz AllStars among many others.. In 2012 he participated in the Curaçao North Jazz Festival where he records the DVD Salsa Giants as keyboardist and pianist who was later honored with the Latin Grammy in 2013.

In 2015 he starts his own Ensemble called “Conjunto Pepe Montes” as his classic old cuban inspirations did (like Septeto Ignacio Piñeiro and Conjunto Arsenio Rodriguez) focused in bringing back the golden era sounds of the lost Cuba of the 40's and 50's. With a selection of the finest cuban musicians in Miami and the retro look of the classics with a hint of modernity and youth. His repertoire covers more than 150 songs going from son montuno to mambo, guaracha, salsa, timba and latin jazz.

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