LOS CHICOS MALOS
Los Chicos Malos, Boulder's most virtuoso salsa and Cuban jazz band are:
Jesús Muñoz, dancer
Jesus Munoz is currently an MFA Candidate and Graduate Instructor at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a performer, educator, choreographer, and Latin percussionist originally from Mexico. He moved to Denver, Colorado at the age of 12 where he began his training in Cuban Contemporary (Graham+Afro), Afro-Cuban, Cuban Folkloric, Cuban Popular Dances and Latin Percussion. He began his formal training at the age of 16 focusing on Ballet and Modern in Oklahoma city at OKC ballet. He was accepted and received a B.F.A in Dance Performance (Ballet, Modern and Jazz based program) at the University of Central Oklahoma. As a solo Latin artist he has taught and performed in salsa conferences in Seoul South Korea, New York, L.A., San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, and has played Latin Percussion alongside Tito Puente Jr.
José Alberto Cabrera (singer)
Vocalist from Caracas, Venezuela, started singing at the early age of 9 during middle school time. When reached 15 started to listen salsa for the first time and got hooked up with all the salsa movement of those years back in1978. Has been the lead singer for several salsa bands in Denver, and Orlando, FL.
Jonny Jyemo (timbales & vocals)
Is a CO based musician currently living in Boulder. He can be found playing with groups in the area as well as internationally. With a musical style rooted in the dance rhythm of "clave," he is a first call drummer for bands playing Salsa, Reggae, Funk and West African styles of music. He also is the director of his own Latin-reggae group, Jyemo Club, who played at Red Rocks.
Zak Kopeikin (bass)
Started playing bass in Santa Barbara, CA. He studied jazz and commercial music at Santa Barbara Community College, but learned latin jazz and salsa under the guidance of local musicians Rene and Reuben Martinez. After a stint on Carnival, Zak returned to Santa Barbara, where he continued playing with various groups and picking up session work. In Colorado for PhD program, Zak was lucky to meet Victor Mestas and has been playing with Chicos Malos! ever since!
Victor Mestas (keyboard & vocals)
Pianist from Caracas, Venezuela. Endorsement artist for YAMAHA keyboards in Venezuela. Mestas has performed with renowned bands, including Guaco and Trabuco Venezolano, and he has also accompanied world renowned singers, including: Soledad Bravo, Cheo Feliciano, and Julio Iglesias. Since moving to Boulder, he’s been performing on the Brazilian-Latin Jazz scene. In
2016 he started to teach Latin Jazz Ensemble/Piano at Thompson Jazz Studies Program, CU Boulder.
Leo Munoz-Corona (tumbadoras & vocals)
Born in Mexico City. Performed and collaborated with artists such as: Tom Coster, Willie Colon, Jaguares, Juanes, Lucero, Ricardo Arjona, Paulina Rubio, Franco de Vita, Ana Bárbara, Paty Manterola, Pilar Montenegro, Cecilia Toussaint, Sasha Sokol, La Barranca, Curanderos and many more.
Jesús Muñoz, dancer
Jesus Munoz is currently an MFA Candidate and Graduate Instructor at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a performer, educator, choreographer, and Latin percussionist originally from Mexico. He moved to Denver, Colorado at the age of 12 where he began his training in Cuban Contemporary (Graham+Afro), Afro-Cuban, Cuban Folkloric, Cuban Popular Dances and Latin Percussion. He began his formal training at the age of 16 focusing on Ballet and Modern in Oklahoma city at OKC ballet. He was accepted and received a B.F.A in Dance Performance (Ballet, Modern and Jazz based program) at the University of Central Oklahoma. As a solo Latin artist he has taught and performed in salsa conferences in Seoul South Korea, New York, L.A., San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, and has played Latin Percussion alongside Tito Puente Jr.
José Alberto Cabrera (singer)
Vocalist from Caracas, Venezuela, started singing at the early age of 9 during middle school time. When reached 15 started to listen salsa for the first time and got hooked up with all the salsa movement of those years back in1978. Has been the lead singer for several salsa bands in Denver, and Orlando, FL.
Jonny Jyemo (timbales & vocals)
Is a CO based musician currently living in Boulder. He can be found playing with groups in the area as well as internationally. With a musical style rooted in the dance rhythm of "clave," he is a first call drummer for bands playing Salsa, Reggae, Funk and West African styles of music. He also is the director of his own Latin-reggae group, Jyemo Club, who played at Red Rocks.
Zak Kopeikin (bass)
Started playing bass in Santa Barbara, CA. He studied jazz and commercial music at Santa Barbara Community College, but learned latin jazz and salsa under the guidance of local musicians Rene and Reuben Martinez. After a stint on Carnival, Zak returned to Santa Barbara, where he continued playing with various groups and picking up session work. In Colorado for PhD program, Zak was lucky to meet Victor Mestas and has been playing with Chicos Malos! ever since!
Victor Mestas (keyboard & vocals)
Pianist from Caracas, Venezuela. Endorsement artist for YAMAHA keyboards in Venezuela. Mestas has performed with renowned bands, including Guaco and Trabuco Venezolano, and he has also accompanied world renowned singers, including: Soledad Bravo, Cheo Feliciano, and Julio Iglesias. Since moving to Boulder, he’s been performing on the Brazilian-Latin Jazz scene. In
2016 he started to teach Latin Jazz Ensemble/Piano at Thompson Jazz Studies Program, CU Boulder.
Leo Munoz-Corona (tumbadoras & vocals)
Born in Mexico City. Performed and collaborated with artists such as: Tom Coster, Willie Colon, Jaguares, Juanes, Lucero, Ricardo Arjona, Paulina Rubio, Franco de Vita, Ana Bárbara, Paty Manterola, Pilar Montenegro, Cecilia Toussaint, Sasha Sokol, La Barranca, Curanderos and many more.