Mazacote

Mazacote is the hard-swinging, old school salsa group of legendary percussionist Louie Romero. Based in San Francisco, the ensemble plays a crowd-pleasing, high-energy mixture of classic salsa favorites and original Latin jazz tunes.

Praised by Latin Beat magazine as “one of the premier salsa ensembles in Northern California,” Mazacote plays music that is altogether a soulful and danceable mixture of salsa, cha cha, Latin jazz, Cuban guajira and bomba. The band has gained fans across the Bay Area who are moved by Mazacote’s energy, musicianship and mastery of the style.

Founder Louie Romero came to fans’ attention as the longtime timbales player for famed salsero “El Cantante” Hector Lavoe. Romero is also renowned for his work with Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis alum Ron Carter and many other music icons in his native New York. The percussionist has appeared on five gold and two platinum records over his extensive and storied career.