This remarkable ensemble led by Peruvian drummer and educator Hector Morales features some masters of the Afro-Peruvian musical tradition currently living in the US. These include former Peru Negro singer and dancer, the one and only!, Mariela Valencia, emblematic percussionists, siblings, Cesar and Hector Ferreyra, and innovative arranger and guitarist Yuri Juarez. The ensemble also includes two remarkable musicians from the NYC Latin music scene, Pedro Giraudo on bass and Ali Bello on violin.

 Over five years of musical activity, the group has been privileged to perform several times with special guest, Peruvian master bass player and Grammy-award-winning Oscar Stagnaro, master percussionist Marcos Napa, as well as with top-notch musicians of the NY scene, including violinist Sergio Reyes, saxophone player Laura Andrea Leguia and bass players Edward Perez and Josh David Barret. 

 This group was founded in the year 2012 by Morales, with the goal of introducing this unique musical tradition to a wider audience in the US and around the world. That same year, Morales’ instructional book and DVD on Afro-Peruvian music was published by Sher Music Co. and was nominated by Modern Drummer Magazine in the best educational book of the year category. The band that recorded the book’s DVD features members of this ensemble, along with Latin bass master Oscar Stagnaro, guitarist Erick Kurimski and percussionists Jhair Sala and Paulo Stagnaro.

 Some of the stages where “The Afro-Peruvian Ensemble” has performed include Berklee College Of Music, Bowdoin College, William Paterson University, Falcon’s Music Hall, Purpl, Monroe Township, Hudson River Museum and New York Botanical Garden.