Los Bandidos

**Salsa rooted in Afro-Cuban rhythm, driven by brass, energy, and joy.**

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Los Bandidos are a six-piece salsa ensemble presenting music that is both deeply rhythmic and musically refined. Rooted in Afro-Cuban and Caribbean traditions and informed by jazz harmony and improvisation, the band brings together the physical energy of dance music with the focus and detail of a listening-room performance.

 

Their sound draws on core forms such as son, rumba, guajira, mambo, and bembe, alongside the wider salsa and Latin jazz tradition. Layered percussion creates a vibrant rhythmic foundation, supporting tumbao basslines, piano montunos, and a horn section that delivers strong melodic writing, tight ensemble passages, and expressive solos. Throughout, the emphasis is on clarity, momentum, and collective feel.

 

The band’s repertoire reflects the breadth of the salsa and Latin jazz canon, from classic big-band and Afro-Cuban influences to modern interpretations and carefully arranged adaptations, all presented in authentic salsa styles. Whether the focus is close listening, dancing, or both, Los Bandidos’ performances are energetic, uplifting, and immersive — music that builds quickly, sustains its drive, and brings the room together.

 

In the spirit of the great salsa and Latin jazz traditions, Los Bandidos combine authentic Afro-Cuban forms with the energy and openness of a live jazz ensemble.

 

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**Line-up**

 

​Robin Pengilley — trumpet

Tom Breeze — trombone

Tom Ball — piano

Jim Rintoul — bass

Ben Waring — percussion

Preston Prince — percussion