Gabriel Espinosa

Gabriel Esinosa was born in Merida, Mexico in 1952. His love of music began at a very young age. With the help of his mother he began playing the guitar at the age of six. By the age of fourteen, along with his brothers Victor and Patricio, Gabriel performed with their group Los Deltons, where he played bass guitar.
In 1976 Gabriel attended Central College, in Pella, IA, where he received a BA in music. He then attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where he received a degree in arranging and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1983. In his last year at Berklee Gabriel formed the group Ashanti along with his friend and classmate George Robert. During that year, he played with Ashanti in venues all around Boston.
From 1984 to 1991 he performed with his group Ashanti in Can Cun, MX.
In 1992 Gabriel attended the University of North Texas in Denton, TX where he received his Masters degree in Jazz studies in 1995. While studying at UNT, Gabriel was also a part of the UNT Jazz Singers. Along with his studies Gabriel produced several albums for Mexican artists including, Armando Manzanero.
In 1996 Gabriel returned to Central College in Pella, IA, where he became Director of Jazz Studies. He not only directed the jazz band and taught private music lessons but also started the Vocal Combos music program, which has been very successful.
With his return to Pella also came the return of his band Ashanti. In the years that followed Ashanti recorded three albums, which include En Fuego, Sin Fronteras, and Dyos Bo'otik, as well as touring in venues all over the Midwest and Mexico. Ashanti has had many guest musicians including, Alex Acuña, Anat Cohen, Gil Goldstein and Dave Samuels among others.
In January 2008 Gabriel celebrated his 40 years in music. On January 7, 2008 Gabriel had the opportunity to present his band Ashanti Mundo at the Teatro Jose Peon Contreras in his native Merida, MX. His concert with Ashanti Mundo featured Berklee alumni and close friend George Robert on sax, Edsel Gomez on piano, Claudio Roditi on trumpet and Tim Crumley on drums.
In August 2008 Gabriel presented a concert with the Doctors in Jazz in Avigliana, Italy featuring George Robert on sax, Francis Coletta on guitar, Maria Rusca on piano, Riccardo Fioravanti on bass and Sangoma Everett on drums.
From August 31 to September 3 Gabriel was a guest vocal professor for the Due Laghi Jazz Workshop in Avigliana, Italy.
In November 2008 Gabriel recorded his first solo album project in New York City. The album features compositions by Gabriel Espinosa and Alison Wedding with the talented collaborations of Antonio Sanchez, Claudio Roditi, George Robert, Helio Alves, Adriano Santos, Anat Cohen, Romero Lubambo, Darmon Meader, Kim Nazarian, Jacinto Macedo and Alison Wedding.
In July of 2010 Gabriel presented the music of his From Yucatan to Rio CD at the Iowa City Jazz Festival together with: Helio Alves, Adriano Santos, Alison Wedding, Jim Snidero, Paul Meyers and Tim Crumley.
In May of 2011 Gabriel and Hendrik Meurkens recorded a CD called Celebrando together with: Antonio Sanchez, Anat Cohen, Alison Wedding, Misha Tsiganov, Mauricio Zotarelli and Jim Seeley. The CD will be released April of 2012.