The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. is excited to welcome West End Mambo to the lineup for the 2025 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival! The fiery, nine-piece salsa band will set the stage ablaze as they kick off the second day of the Festival on Sunday, August 31, 2025, by the lake in Oak Hollow Festival Park in High Point, NC.
Festival-goers can expect West End Mambo to bring a vibrant burst of energy to the start of Day Two. Their music isn’t just to be heard — it’s to be felt, danced to, and experienced. Adding such a dynamic group to this year’s lineup, brings yet another dimension to a weekend filled with world-class performances.
West End Mambo’s music is pure energy — a seamless blend of classic salsa and traditional Latin styles that will have the audience on their feet from the first note. Their repertoire spans bolero, rumba, guaracha, and son montuno, weaving in original orchestral salsa arrangements alongside beloved classics from Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, and the Fania All-Stars.
From Latin Jazz Roots to Salsa Powerhouse
Formed in 1999 in Winston-Salem by Ukrainian bassist Andrew Valentine, West End Mambo began as a Latin jazz project inspired by the award-winning documentary Buena Vista Social Club. That spark quickly grew into a full-scale salsa ensemble, evolving over the years into one of the most dynamic and authentic Latin music groups in the Southeast.
Key to that transformation was the arrival of Cesar Oviedo — a Nicaraguan-born pianist, bassist, arranger, and musical director with a rich background performing around the globe. Under his leadership, the group’s sound expanded beyond Latin jazz to embrace the full, vibrant spectrum of salsa and traditional Latin dance music.
A Lineup of World-Class Talent
West End Mambo’s members hail from across North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, bringing a wealth of cultural and musical influences to the stage. The lineup includes:
Cesar Oviedo – piano, vocals, arranger, musical director
Atiba Rorie – congas, vocals
Steve Blake – saxophone, flute, arranger
Sendy Mendez – vocals, percussion
Marcelo Falconi – bass
Ramone Ortiz – timbales, congas, bongos, vocals
Dr. Christian McIvor – trumpet
Jay Meachum – trumpet
These musicians have performed with symphonies, toured internationally, and shared the stage with top-tier artists across multiple genres. Together, they create an infectious, high-energy performance that embodies the joy, rhythm, and passion of Latin music.
