Bio
http://www.nuclearcentury.com/ - Glitter Maker Rolando Matias San Juan, Puerto Rico Latin Percussionist and Vocals Leader, Composer, Founder & Business Manager Closed to a decade ago, Rolando conceptualize The Afro-Rican Ensemble, with a vision and direction the Ensemble followed to national and international recognition. As an entertainer and musician, Rolando cannot be denied: a Multi-talented percussionist, Afro-Caribbean musicologist, Ethno-Foklorist and an great blues harmonica player. Rolando has traveled the U.S. playing in a wide variety of groups, performing everything from the blues to Latin rock, and everything in between. A self-taught musician, Rolando, applied his formal training as an Architect into his musical education, seeking perfection, has sought out the greats during his travels in order to perfect his techniques. Rolando started playing percussion at a young age in Cupey Alto, at the local “Bembes” of the neighborhood. “Bembe” is a gathering of “rumberos” jamming and improvising together. “We started with percussion grooves, pretty soon a trombone player joined in, a trumpeter and all of a sudden the place was kicking, it was a great scene.” His performances range from the playful to the passionate, making this powerful Puerto Rican presence a pleasure worth watching. Rolando has performed or recorded with the likes of Chuchito Valdez, Benny Maupin, Leon ..Ndugu.. Chadler, Azar Lawrence, Othello Molineaux, guitarist Mimmi Fox, percussionists: Bobby Matos, Bobby Sanabria, Bill Summers and Lenny Castro, bluesmen: Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater, Kenny Neal, Duke Robillard, Australian Dave Hole, Debbie Davies and Howard Scott and the World Band, the late great pianist from Cleveland Roberto Ocasio,multi-grammy winner: David Sanchez, Brazilian reedman Carlos Malta, the B-3 madman Ron Levy, Pam Williams, trumpeters: Pharez Whitted, Derek Gardner and Ray Vega, Los Hombres Calientes, guitarist Jim Savitt, Hector Martignon, Greg Abate, Andy Gonzalez, Adela Dalto, Kim Pencyl, The Navigators , the master of the spoken word the legenday Umar Hassan from The Last Poets among others. Rolando has a variaty of projects that varies from Afro-Latin-BeBop to Afro-Latin-Hip/Hop. With projects likes: Rolando Matias & The Afro-Rican Ensemble: Afro-Latin-BeBop, Latin-Soulsa & Jazz RM:Intrin-x-ico: Afro-Jazz Rolando Matias & Cuba-son: Salsa na ma!! “We Is”: Afro-Latin-Hip/Hop exploring trova/spoken word with the full African Diaspora Rolando Matias is endorsed by: Meinl Percussion instruments exclusively. Congas-Meinl's Wood Craft,Marathon or Floatunes Congas, Bongos-Meinl's Wood Craft, Meinl “Cajon”, Timbales-Amadito Valdez Signature Series & Luis Conte Signature Series and Meinl's RealPlayer cowbells, Meinl's Caliente 18” Ride/Crash, Floatune Bata Drums (Okonkolo, Itotele & Iya) and Meinl's hand percussion (claves, guiros, maracas etc.)
