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CO-FOUNDER/ GUITARIST - CARLOS ARANGO
Carlos Arango is a Sound Engineer, Guitarist, event promoter and music selector who has stretched his musical passion to different artistic realms forging a variety of successful projects in Australia. He is the original idea and Co- founder of well-known 15-piece Cumbia Orchestra Cumbiamuffin, Co-founder of the Maroubra Caves musical project that has open space to a number of outdoor performers to collaborate and share music in a refreshing and inviting atmosphere.

As a music selector and event promoter, Carlos performs as Tropicante Sound Sistema. Member of Sydney’s Underground DJ Collective Pineapple Republic,  a well renowned Selector, event promoter and host of some of the most iconic Tropical nights around the best Venues in Sydney. Part of Tropicante’s Credits includes hosting events with Internationals like Quantic Jose Marquez and Daniel Haaksman

Carlos currently works as part of Sydney’s Opera House Sound/ AV department as a in-house senior Sound Engineer and freelances with different bands and festivals as FOH or Monitors Engineer.

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LEAD SINGER - ANGELA ROSERO
Angela is a Colombian artist who has captivated Australian audiences combining her talents of acting and singing. Lead singer of the well loved Sydney dance band CUMBIAMUFFIN, along with collaborations with PENA FLAMENCA, ARREBATO ENSAMBLE and ART OF CADENCIA productions.

Angela was Co founder, producer and actress of HISPANIC ARTISTIC EXPRESSION (HAE) a not-for-profit organisation created on 2008. The company was created
with the purpose of spreading amongst the public in Australia, the culture, idiosyncrasy, costumes and language of HISPANO AMERICA.

Later on 2010, HAE evolved and established a creative space called “La Sala” were they developed and presented high quality artistic events, with a positive impact on community development, not only by creating opportunities for local artists, but also supporting charity organisations with serious dedication in making a change for the better of people in need.

On 2013 she produced her first solo concert called “Viaje” a tribute to women composers from Latin America. Mother of Gabriel (2014), Juliana (2016) and Santiago (2018), Angela kept working on her music projects, produced her second solo concert “Vida” a tribute to motherhood, and now is inviting women to be part of “Ellas” a series of concerts to make a tribute to Latin American music, showing its roots through music, by different female singers in Australia

On 2019 Angela was selected to be part of SSI Sydney delegation for Australian Woman in Music Awards.

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MC ALTAFARI - ALFONSO MOSQUERA
Born in Cali-Colombia specialises in Afro-Caribbean Rhythms, Reggae, Dancehall and Hip Hop.
Starting as an Mc in some local sounds systems;  Jah Baya Sounds of Revolution, Jay Jay Roberts, Ras Rony,, Basslines Crew, Bump Crew, DJ Johna- 4:20 productions, Rebel Soul System alongside Ras Roni and more local acts goes to Collaborated with touring bands like Third World, Luciano Lee’s Scratch, Perry, O- Yaba, Arrested Development. them joint Sydney’s first Cumbia Orchestra Cumbiamuffin and the rest is history. Alfonso -aka- Altafari is also A Reggae Dj and Radio broadcaster
 

BASS - TINA HARRIS
Bassist Tina Harris straddles the disparate musical worlds of Afro Latin music, playing across a number of styles (Afro Cuban, Colombian, Haitian, and West African), and Musical Theatre and Cabaret. She also leads several projects, (currently Tijuana Taxi – a Tribute to the Music of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass) and was recently musical director of Hair The Musical - National and Regional Tour (2019) as well as bassist on Betty Blokkbuster Reimagined - Sydney Festival (2020), and Come From Away - The Comedy Theatre in Melbourne (2020).

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DRUMS - JAMIE CAMERON
Extensive live and studio experience with jazz groups, songwriters, rock bands and percussion ensembles, with performances throughout Australia and New Zealand, and in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Notable activities include multiple tours with the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra (with Maria Schneider, Chris Potter, Jim McNeely, Darcy James Argue), tours with B'Tutta & The Sousaphonics (Musica Viva In Schools), Denzel Curry's viral "Like a Version" for Triple J, and festival appearances and recordings with Clayton Doley's "Bayou Billabong", Luke Escombe's "The Vegetable Plot", Amphibious, James Valentine, Cameron Undy's 20th Century Dog, Song Fwaa, and Joe Kelly, amongst many others.

TAMBORA - FRANCISCO CASTILLO
Born in Bogota – Colombia, Francisco is a passionate Percussionist who graduated from the Faculty of Arts with a Diploma in Music with an emphasis on folkloric music. He has spent a great deal of his musical career studying the native Colombian rhythms and other traditional styles with the objective of interpreting and representing them to different audiences. He currently plays a combination of Tambora (big drum mic), Alegre (jembe similar a drum with animal skin) and Maracones (large Shakers)

CONGAS - AYKHO AKHRIF
Raised in Holland percussionist and drummer Aykho Akhrif has played alongside the likes of Bob Dylan and the Gypsy Kings in countries ranging from Cuba to America to most of Europe. Now an Australian resident he is one of the most in demand session drummers in the country playing regularly with James Morrison. Recently he’s been joining DJ Levi 5Star, adding a percussive element to his house sets, locking in a groove that lasts all night long.
He loves to combine his talents, working with different bands, jazz Latin, African, and Flamenco, or a combination of all the above. Aykho has been playing percussion for 25 years, there is no one that can rock the conga’s quite like Aykho Akhrif in Cumbiamuffin.

SHAKERS ( Maracones ) - ALEJANDRO CARDOSO
Alejo Cardoso, Colombian born musician currently resides in Sydney Australia and is a connoisseur of traditional Colombian rhythms and a master of a number of Colombian instruments including flauta traversa, gaita macho and hembra, maracas, tambora; all unique to rhythms from the Colombian Caribbean.  His vast knowledge expands all folkloric interpretations including all rhythms from the Caribbean, Pacific Region and the Andean Region of Colombia. This styles include Cumbia, Porro, Puya, Currulao, Passillo and many more.

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TRUMPET 1- MARTY FARRUGIA
Youngest endorsee of Selmer Paris for brass instruments. Appeared at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival with the Zoo Big Band. Employed by the Sydney Olympics committee to play several events during the games. Toured and performed with various internationally renowned pop and world music acts including TLC, James Morrison, Human Nature, Jessica Mauboy, Joe Bataan, Cecelia Noël, Bill Summers and OsvaldoChacon. Numerous television appearances including X Factor, A Place To Call Home, Love Child, Sunrise and Mornings with Kerri-Anne. Speaking and trumpet playing role in the Sapphires Movie.

Hired by Emanuel School as lead trumpet in various musical theatre productions including Oklahoma,
Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde and Into The Woods. Recording sessions for various studios including 301, Sony, Hercules Street, ABC and Song Zu. Performed on main stages of various Australian festivals including Blues and Roots, Woodford Folk, Festival, Homebake, A Day on the Green and Womadelaide. Based in London for 2 years whilst touring the European festival circuit 2006 - 2007. Multiple residencies at The Venetian Macau 2009 - 2010. Toured and performed regularly with band such as The Marvin Gaye experience, Kriola Collective, Cumbia Muffin, Los Gringos, Son Veneno and Tijuana Taxi

TRUMPET 2 - SIMON FERENCI
Simon Ferenci is a Sydney-based trumpeter who has been a finalist in the National Jazz Awards in 2003, 2010 and 2017. He regularly performs in Sydney and has performed around Australia and internationally. As a member of the award-winning Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, he has also performed with many leading international jazz musicians including Grammy winner Maria Schneider (US) and nominees Darcy James Argue (US) and Chris Potter (US). In addition he has toured and/or recorded with musicians/bands such as Passenger (UK), Joanna Newsom (US), Aloe Blacc (US), The Beautiful Girls, The Herd, Watussi and many more.
His self-titled release from 2013, an album of his own compositions and improvisations, has been described as "an excellent blend of jazz sensibilities with more abstract textures. All four of the musicians contribute great things" - Lloyd Swanton (The Necks, The Catholics).

ALTO SAX - DAN JUNOR
Danny plays saxophones in a variety of Sydney ensembles. Kriola Collective, Unity Hall Jazz Band, Sonic Mayhem Orchestra to name a few. He's happiest when he's playing something that feels good, hasn't been heard that much lately and has people dancing.
Lately, Danny resides in Canberra and he's happy to know that this helps extend the breadth of Cumbiamuffin's multicultural mix just a tiny bit further.

BARITONE SAX - JAMES LOUGHNAN
James Loughnan is a saxophonist and music educator based on the NSW Central Coast. His work in the Australian jazz scene has seen him as co-leader of Felucca and The Acronym Orchestra, as well as working with The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra, James Morrison and Dan Barnett. James is also busy as a session musician, performing and recording with Guy Sebastian, Aloe Blacc, TLC, Freindly Fires, the Hilltop Hoods. He is a founding member of Cumbiamuffin.

CLARINET - ROSS HARRINGTON
Musical performer, teacher & composer.
Originally a classically trained saxophonist Ross is now an in demand multi-instrumentalist on the Sydney jazz and world music scene. Ross’ passion for jazz is largely due to his school work experience that he completed at the Australian Army Band which inspired him to pursue further musical study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he completed a Bachelor of Jazz Performance. He has also been the recipient of a number of musical scholarships in his career. As well as playing in a variety of Sydney based ensembles, Ross composes and performs in his own project, Midnight Tea Party, which is inspired by the sounds of the balkans and dub/reggae.

PIANO - LAUTARO VELOSO
Musician and music educator, playing the piano since the age of 9. Lautaro is classically trained who ventured in discovering his musical roots by performing indigenous Chilean music and moved into studying the folkloric music of Latin America having toured the world playing music in various ensembles including Cumbiamuffin, Salsa Kingz, Veneno, Jungle Boogie, Barrio Soul, Armandito Productions among many others. Lautaro also composes for a variety of genres.