Yrving Yeras (Violin, Vocals, Minor Percussion, Recorder,
Charango)
Grammy Winning Violinist Yrving Yeras was born in 1973 in Santa Clara, Cuba, Yrving began his music studies at age 6 and by the time he was 14 was already playing violin professionally in the Santa Clara Symphonic Orchestra - the youngest musician ever to be hired to play professionally in that orchestra's history in which he rose to earn the principal chair. He performed with the symphony for over eight years.
In additional to his great success as a young classical musician, Yrving was also a member of the highly acclaimed and award-winning traditional music group, Orquesta Charanga Oro Verde, which appeared regularly in Cuba's Music Festivals, as well as taking top prizes and winning numerous National competitions.
While still in Cuba, Yrving created his own trio, Alma Latina, which had the incredible privilege of touring Europe and Central America as Ambassadors of Traditional Cuban Music. Alma Latina was repeatedly invited to perform in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Costa Rica, Panama,Guatemala, and throughout Cuba.
In 1999, Yrving came to the United States seeking freedom of personal and political expression. Since then, he has performed and recorded with about every great Charanga Orchestra in New York.
In 2002, Yrving fouded YeraSon which has performed constantly around New York keeping Yrving extremely busy as a Director, Bandleader and Soloist working with New York's greatest Latin Musicians. He has been a featured soloist in Concerts at Lincoln Center and NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Yrving, as well as being a Violinist, Singer & Bandleader, plays Tres, Charango, Percussion, Teaches, Arranges, Composes and works as a Luthier.
Lisa Yeras (Violin, Viola, Accordion, Piano)
Born in Washington D.C. to Japanese and American
parents. Lisa is a classically trained musician who studied at
Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, and was a
scholarship recipient at the Manhattan School of Music
where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Music
performance. She has appeared in concerts throughout New
York as both soloist and chamber musician and has worked
with a diverse array of composers from classical to electronic
music.
Lisa has performed on piano and violin with flamenco groups
Flamenco Latino, Helena Andujar, Chuscales, Christian
Puig, and Jorge Navarro. She has also played and recorded
with the charanga SonSublime, and has performed at
venues in New York City and throughout the country
including several concerts in Washington, D.C., the Brooklyn
Museum, Alegrias, and the premier of Picasso's "Las Cuatro
Ninitas" at the Thalia Theater. When not performing, Lisa is
a member of the piano faculty at the Greenwich House Music
School.
Mauricio Smith JR (flute & sax)
Born in Panama and residing in New York City. At age 15
he was already a sensation with his Flute, studied music at
the National Conservatory of Panama, and also studied with
some great musicians/composers like: Professor Eduardo
Charpentier, Roberto Pitre, Mauricio Smith Senior and many
others. His influence in music and the flute was from his
mentor and father, who gave him the teaching and the
guidance to playing, but the passion and energy has
developed on his own, which can be proven by the style and
performance.
Dedicated to the public and listeners, his performance are
never the same, because he is always trying to out perform
himself. Mauricio, has played as a soloist, at the National
Conservatory of Music of Panama, played with the National
Guard of Panama Band ("Once de Octubre"), "Orquesta de
Camara - Clarinon", Caribbean Sound, Orquesta de Toby
Munoz, Orquesta del Profesor Edgardo Quintero, Orquesta
Novel.
Nelson (Skello) Rojas (Congas, Vocals)
Skello was born in Puerto Rico grew up in New York City,
jamming on drums as a kid with his step-brother's rock band
in Coney Island before he fell in love with Latin music. While
playing one night at "The Corso" nightclub, he met Nicky
Marrero and became one of his students. Skello would
spend a lot of time with Nicky, learning from him and
carrying his gear, until becoming a band boy with
TIPICA'73. In that environment he was able to learn from
Latin greats like Johnny Rodriguez and Joe Grajales, and
before long he was being recommended for gigs to the likes
of Tito Puente, Machito, Hector Lavoe, Conjunto Libre,
Bobby Capo, Ralph McDonald, David Am ram, Ralphy Santi
, Johnny Pacheco, Hector Casanova and Charlie
Rodriguez. After rehearsing with Fania All-stars and Tico
Allegre All-stars, Skello went on to record with Carlos
Carvajal y su Colombian All-stars 1977 and joined the
legendary Jose Fajardo y Sus Estrellas, with whom he
stayed until 1985. That year he suffered a terrible accident
and lost the use of his left hand; his doctors told him he
would never be able to play again, but Skello refused to
accept that and immediately started working at rehabilitating
his hand. By 1990 he was playing again, this time with
groups like Javier Vasquez y su Sonora, Johnny Rivera,
Ernie Acevedo y Conjunto Imagen, and the new Fajardo Y
Sus Estrellas, led by Jose Fajardo's son, Armando. Skello
is happy to be playing again, and is particularly excited
about his latest and greatest adventure: YERASON! We
are fortunate to have such a dedicated and hard-working
musician on congas, and everyone in the group draws
inspiration from Skello's personal philosophy: Life is Music,
and Music is Life.
Marino Solano (Bass) - On May 23, 2007, our beloved
friend and fellow musician Marino Solano passed away.
He was a founding member of YeraSon and we dedicate
every performance in his memory, may he rest in peace.
Marino was born in the Dominican Republic. He is the a
true Latin music veteran, having begun his professional
career at the tender age of 11. He has played with El
Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Rafael Cortijo, Primitivo
Santos, Charanga De La 4, Conjunto Modelo, Orquestra
Broadway, Orquesta Novel, Jose Fajardo and countless
others. Throughout his decades-long career he has both
played and recorded with just about every distinguished
group in the country.
Lewis Kahn (Trombone & Violin)
Based in New York, Lewis Kahn Has Been Working as a
trombonist and violinist since the late sixties.
After studying at the Eastmanand and Julliard schools of
music he went on to perform worldwide in a variety of
musical styles. Some of the artist he has performed and
recorded whith, include: Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Celia
Cruz, Phylis Hyman, Janis Ian, David Byrne, Machito,
Ruben Blades, Willy Colon, Hector Lavoe, Charlie & Eddie
Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco and Marc Anthony.
Conal Fowkes (Bass,Piano, Vocals)
Born in Zambia and raised in England, moved to New York
in 1996 and has been in constant demand as a pianist,
bassist and arranger in diverse styles of music. He is a
graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and has
studied with Cuban piano masters Chucho Valdes and
Marco Rizo. In addition to playing with YeraSon, Conal is
a member of the acclaimed groups Los Soneros de
Oriente, the Woody Allen Jazz Band, Orange Kellin's New
Orleans Serenaders and the Manhattan Ragtime
Orchestra, and also performs regularly as pianist for
movie-star-turned-crooner Danny Aiello. Conal has
performed at premiere venues all over the world, including
the Montreaux Jazz Festival, London's Royal Festival Hall
in London, the Kennedy Center and New York's Blue Note
and Lincoln Center. This exceptional artist has performed
with Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, Adalberto
Santiago, Henry Fiol, Johnny Pacheco, Bette Midler,
Patato Valdes, Enrique Pla and a host of others. He has
also been featured on Broadway ("One Mo' Time"), on the
radio (Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion") and
in film ( Finding Forrester, Ghost World, Madame
Suzatska, The Aviator). Roberta Pla's Right On Time, Los
Soneros de Oriente's A Las Orishas, Hanny's The Voice
of Cuba and Soul Station's Congalegre are among
Conal's extensive recording credits. He has began
playing bass and piano with YeraSon since 2004, and has
been reluctantly dubbed "El Loco De Leicester."
