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Jafet Murguia
Jafet started accompanying his dad to the diverse shows he played about town, and was officially hired as part of the band when he was ten. "The band played salsa, calypso, merengue and other styles", says Jafet, adding, "We played at weddings, birthdays and pool parties all around town". At 14, Jafet realized that he was playing the same parts his dad was playing, so he decided to move from congas to the timbales. Around the same time, Jafet enrolled in the extension program at the local conservatory, studying with Tony Sánchez, in addition to taking private lessons with David "La Mole" Ortiz. These lessons continued until Jafet was 18. Now, the rising star percussionist studies at the Inter-American Popular Music School in Cupey, a suburb of San Juan. There, Jafet has added harmony, arranging and composition to his percussion classes. In addition, he is a part of a band called San Juan Habana, which is directed by acclaimed arranger and composer Juan José Lande (of El Gran Combo fame). "We combine traditional approaches to more modern arrangements," Jafet says proudly. "I think we are the next big thing that will come out of Puerto Rico!" Please visit: myspace.com/jafetmf |
Toca
artist Jafet Murguia was born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. His
father, Javier Torres, is a professional percussionist so from the time
as a young toddler, Jafet would play with the instruments that were lying
around the family home. "When I was three my dad bought me a
pair of little congas," he recalls. "When I was around nine
years old, I started to really practice in a more focused manner, playing
along to a cassette of the Fania All Stars, as well as with the radio," he
adds.