SIDE A :
Hoy y manana
La gente
Caridad
Suavecito
SIDE B :
Contigo no
Carino
Deuda
Vilato special
Contigo no
Carino
Deuda
Vilato special
Born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1944, multi-percussionist Orestes Vilató is one of the most influential figures in the world of Latin percussion. His unique style on the Cuban timbales is one of the most emulated in the genre, and his artistry has graced the stage and recording studios with a Who’s Who of musical legends, from Aretha Franklin to Carlos Santana.
As a pioneer of the East Coast Salsa phenomenon, Vilató played a seminal role with such musical institutions and artists as the Fania All Stars, Ray Barretto, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco and many others. After 25 years in New York, Orestes found new musical opportunities in Northern California as a member of the Santana band, forging a road into the Latin Rock genre, and as a result, his virtuoso percussion work would become a main fixture with numerous national and international artists, covering a range of styles from authentic Cuban music to Latin jazz, Salsa, Rock and beyond.
In 1995, Orestes earned a Grammy nomination for the groundbreaking album Ritmo y Candela alongside fellow Cuban percussion legends Carlos “Patato” Valdez and José Luis Quintana “Changuito,” and has graced the Grammy-winning albums of Cuban bassist/composer and original Mambo King Israel “Cachao” López. Since relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1981, Orestes maintains his place as one of the most in-demand percussionists on the planet.
As a young boy in Cuba, Orestes was encouraged by his father to pursue his passion for music, turning his first instrument — a guitar — upside-down and playing it like a drum. After receiving his first bongos, a young Orestes immersed himself in studying the music of his homeland, inspired by the many greats he heard on the radio as well as in person.
During the 1950s, the Vilató family moved to New York, and soon Orestes began playing his first timbales. As a teen he honed his skills alongside many pioneers of the Cuban and Jazz music scenes, including Chico O´Farrill, Belisario López, José Fajardo, Lionel Hampton and others. His legacy as founding member of the Fania All Stars would place him at the center of the Salsa explosion of the 1970s, where Orestes would participate in the various seminal recordings and performances of the genre.
After a stint with the acclaimed Ray Barretto and Típica ´73 orchestras, Orestes formed his own group - Los Kimbos - alongside legendary singer Adalberto Santiago, recording four albums as a leader while remaining one of the most in-demand percussionists on the circuit. His many recordings with diverse artists and musical genres reflect his ever-reaching craft and musicianship, and his unique style soon became well known throughout the globe.
During his twenty five years as a New York City resident, Orestes participated in multiple recordings with fellow Latin music giants including The Fania All Stars (including appearances on film and television), Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Rubén Blades, Carlos Patato Valdez, Cheo Feliciano, La Lupe, Joe Cuba, Rolando La Serie and many others.
Over the decades Orestes would expand his musical tapestry, particularly through the high visibility of his nine year-stint with the Santana Band, lending his percussion sound to recordings and performances by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Linda Ronstadt, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Dave Valentin and Paco De Lucia, among others. He has made numerous appearances as a guest artist at such renowned festivals as the Heineken Jazz Festival (Puerto Rico), San Francisco Jazz Festival, Monterey and San José Jazz festivals, and has been the recipient of several tributes and awards.
In addition, Orestes continues to share his musical talent as a clinician for several prestigious music institutions such as Stanford University, UCLA, The Berklee College of Music and the University of Anchorage. He has also recorded on the soundtracks for several highly acclaimed films, including The Mambo Kings, Our Latin Thing and Dance With Me.
Considered one of the most influential timbales players north of Cuba, Orestes Vilató maintains one foot in the rich tradition of his homeland, and the other in the vast exploration of musical fusion in North America and beyond.
Nacido en Camagüey, Cuba en 1944, el multi-percusionista Orestes Vilató es una de las figuras más influyentes en el mundo de la percusión Latina. Su estilo único en los timbales cubanos es uno de los más imitados en el género, su arte ha engalanado los escenarios y estudios de grabación de numerosas leyendas musicales, desde Aretha Franklin hasta Carlos Santana. Como pionero del fenómeno de la Salsa en la costa Este de EE.UU, Vilató desempeñó un papel trascendental durante el ascenso a la fama de artistas e instituciones musicales como La Fania All Stars, Ray Barretto, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco y muchos otros. Después de 25 años en Nueva York, Orestes encontró nuevas oportunidades musicales en el norte de California, esta vez como miembro de la banda de Santana, fraguando su camino en el género de rock Latino, como resultado, su trabajo de virtuoso de la percusión se convirtió parte substancial de la música de numerosos artistas nacionales e internacionales en diversos estilos entre los que se distinguen la música autentica cubana, el Jazz Latino, la Salsa, el Rock y muchos otros.
De niño en Cuba, Orestes fue estimulado por su padre a continuar su pasión por la música, cuando volteando su primer instrumento - la guitarra -- boca abajo y usándola como un tambor comenzaba su extenso recorrido por el mundo de la percusión. Después de recibir sus primeros Bongos, el joven Orestes se concentró en el estudio de la música de su tierra, inspirado por todos los grandes que escuchaba en la radio y en vivo.
Durante los años 50s, la familia Vilató se traslada a Nueva York, y pronto Orestes comienza a tocar su primer timbal. En su adolescencia Vilato refina sus habilidades musicales junto a importantes pioneros de la música cubana y el jazz, incluyendo Chico O'Farrill, Belisario López, José Fajardo, Lionel Hampton y otros grandes. Su legado como miembro fundador de las Estrellas de La Fania lo coloca en el centro de la explosión de la Salsa en los años 70s, donde Orestes participaría en varias de las más influyentes grabaciones y presentaciones del género.
Durante sus veinticinco años como residente de la ciudad de Nueva York, Orestes participó en varias grabaciones con otros gigantes de la música Latina entre los que se destacan Las Estrellas de la Fania (incluyendo apariciones en el cine y la televisión), Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Rubén Blades, Carlos Patato Valdez, Cheo Feliciano, La Lupe, Joe Cuba, Rolando La Serie y muchos otros.
Durante décadas Orestes continuó ampliando su textura musical y a través de la gran visibilidad recibida por su trabajo durante los nueve años con la banda de Santana, coloca su sonoridad y musicalidad en grabaciones y presentaciones con figuras como Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Herbie Hancock, Linda Ronstadt, Wynton y Branford Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Dave Valentin y Paco De Lucía, entre muchos otros. Orestes ha realizado numerosas apariciones como artista invitado en festivales importantes como El Heineken Jazz Festival (Puerto Rico), San Francisco Jazz Festival, Monterrey Jazz Festival y San José Jazz Festival y su trabajo ha sido reconocido con innumerables homenajes y premios durante todos estos años.
Adicionalmente, Orestes continua trasmitiendo su talento musical como instructor y profundo conocedor de la percusión a través de varias prestigiosas instituciones entre las que se encuentran Stanford University, UCLA, The Berklee College of Music y la Universidad de Anchorage. También ha participado en la grabación de la banda sonora de varias películas muy exitosas, como “The Mambo Kings”, “Our Latin Thing” y “Dance With Me”.
Considerado uno de los timbaleros más influyentes al norte de Cuba, Orestes Vilató mantiene un pie en la rica tradición de su Patria, y el otro en la inmensa y constante exploración de la fusión musical en América del Norte y más allá.
As a Leader
Aguacero No Me Moja, Los Kimbos, Cotique, 1979
Vilató y Los Kimbos: Hoy y Mañana, Los Kimbos, Cotique, 1978
The Big Kimbos with Adalberto Santiago, Los Kimbos, Cotique, 1977
Los Kimbos con Adalberto Santiago, Los Kimbos, Cotique, 1976
As a Guest Artist
90 Millas, Gloria Estefan, Sony Music, 2007
Afreecanos, Omar Sosa, Otá, 2007
Papa Mambo, The John Santos Quintet, Machete, 2007
Descarga en California, Rebeca Mauleón, Universal/Pimienta, 2006
Ballads, Omar Sosa, Otá, 2005
20th Anniversary, John Santos & The Machete Ensemble, Machete, 2005
Para Ellos, John Santos & Kindembo, 2005 (Latin Grammy Nominee)
Ahora Si!, Cachao, Univision, 2004 (Grammy Award Winner)
Brazos Abiertos, John Santos & The Machete Ensemble, Machete, 2003
S.F. Bay, John Santos & The Machete Ensemble, Machete, 2002
Cuba Linda, Cachao, EMI/Cineson, 2000
Legend of Cuban Percussion, Carlos “Patato” Valdez, Six Degrees, 2000
Tribute to the Masters, John Santos & The Machete Ensemble, Machete, 2000
Dos, Cuba L.A., Narada, 2000.
Round Trip, Rebeca Mauleón, Bembe, 1999
Típica ’73 Live, Típica ’73, Universal/Machete, 1999
Cuba L.A., Cuba L.A., Narada, 1998
Machetazo! Ten Years on the Edge, John Santos & The Machete Ensemble, 1998
Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, Aretha Franklin, 1997
Ritmo y Candela, Patato, Changuito & Orestes, Redwood, 1995 (Grammy Award Nominee)
Master Sessions, Vol. II, Cachao, Cescent Moon/Epic, 1995
Master Sessions, Vol. I, Cachao, Crescent Moon/Epic, 1994 (Grammy Award Winner)
Machete, Machete Ensemble, Machete, 1994
Frenesí, Linda Ronstadt, Elektra/Wea, 1992 (Grammy Award Winner)
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh, Santana, Sony Music, 1990
Africa, Vol. 1, Machete Ensemble, Machete, 1988
Freedom, Santana, Sony, 1987
Blues for Salvador, Santana, Sony Music, 1987
Beyond Appearances, Santana, Sony Music, 1985
Havana Moon, Santana, Sony Music, 1983
Shango, Santana, Columbia, 1982
Zeebop!, Santana, Columbia, 1981
Swing of Delight, Santana, Sony Music, 1980
Bohemio y Poeta, Rubén Blades, Fania, 1979
Beyond, Tito Allen, Alegre, 1979
Adalberto, Adalberto Santiago, Fania, 1977
Tomorrow: Barretto Live in New York, Ray Barretto, Fania, 1976
Cheo, Cheo Feliciano, Fania, 1976
Ready for Freddy, Carlos Patato Valdez, Latin Percussion, 1976
Típica ’73, Típica ’73, Fania, 1974
Live at the Cheetah Vol. 1, Fania All Stars, Fania, 1974
Live at the Cheetah Vol. 2, Fania All Stars, Fania, 1974
Carnaval, Ray Barretto, 1973
Live at the Red Garter, Fania All Stars, Fania, 1972
Acid, Ray Barretto, Fania, 1972
The Message, Ray Barretto, Fania, 1972
Barretto Power, Fania, 1972
Together, Ray Barretto, Fania, 1970
Mambo Sangría, Cal Tjader, Acrobat/Fabulous, 1969
Solar Heat, Cal Tjader, Just Jazz/Passport, 1968
Hard Hands, Ray Barretto, Fania, 1968
Pacheco Jams, Johnny Pacheco, Fania, 1964
Mister Pachanga, Jose Fajardo, Columbia, 1962
Sabor Guajiro, José Fajardo, Columbia, 1962
Pachangas, Vol. 2, Belisario Lopez, Ansonia, 1961
Film & Documentary
The Lost City, Magnolia Pictures, 2005
Just The Ticket, MGM, 1999
Dance With Me, Sony Pictures, 1998
The Bird Cage, MGM, 1996
Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, Miramax, 1995
Sworn To The Drum, Flower Films, 1995
Steal Big Steal Little, HBO, 1995
Carlito’s Way, Universal Studios, 1993
Mambo Kings, Warner, 1992
Our Latin Thing, Fania, 1972
