Annette A. Aguilar is a San Francisco Nicaraguan Jazz and Rock drummer, percussionist, bandleader, producer and educator who is based in New York City. She founded the Women in Latin Jazz Festival and is a U.S. State Department Latin Jazz Ambassador.
StringBeans is Aguilar’s ten-piece ensemble. It has been playing Latin and Brazilian Jazz for 30 years in 2022. The band is named for its use of string instruments.
Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans, with guests Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti, play Brazilian and Latin Jazz and Salsa at Hostos Center in Mott Haven, The Bronx on Sat, Apr 2 at 8pm. Live $20 ($5 students). Streaming $10. cuny.edu 🇧🇷🇮🇹🇳🇮
This concert has some serious heavy hitters, and is an unusual meeting of Rock and Latin Jazz. Randy Brecker is a seven-Grammy winning Jazz and Rock trumpeter (Blood, Sweat & Tears; Jazz Messengers; Eliane Elias). Ada Rovatti is an Italian Jazz saxophonist and regular Brecker collaborator.
The show’s lineup is:
- Annette A. Aguilar, percussion and leader
- Karen Joseph, flute
- Nicki Denner, piano
- Jennifer Vincent, cello and bass
- Laura Dreyer, saxophone
- Sofia Tosello, vocals
- Eddie Venegas, trombone & violin
- Rob Thomas, violin
- Rubén Rodríguez, bass
- Renato Thoms, percussion
- Benny Koonyesvky, drums
Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans
As an American Latin, Aguilar brings diverse influences into her music. We love her story because it is representative of who we are as Latins – the great mix (a little bit of everyone).
Born and raised in San Francisco to Nicaraguan parents, Aguilar grew up in San Francisco’s Rock scene. She was a percussionist for The Grateful Dead, played with members of Santana, and even Sheila E who is another amazing woman percussionist.
Aguilar has played with a long line of Rock, R&B, Latin Jazz and Pop stars. She also performs on Broadway. She’s played Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.
She studied Classical music at San Francisco State, has a Masters from Manhattan School of Music, and another Masters in music education from City University of New York. She also studied Latin music at Boys Harbor Conservatory and with the Fort Apache Band. [Hint: get as much education as you can. It helps.]
Most Latin drummers are men, but Aguilar breaks that glass ceiling in the most elegant way. Just keep up with her if you can. Today nobody things twice about it, but back in the day, a woman percussionist was revolutionary. She founded the Women in Latin Jazz Festival in 2014.
Annette is now seeding the next generation of artists. She currently teaches percussion at the Third Street Music School Settlement in the East Village, and the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Aguilar gives a lot of love through her music. In return, she is much loved by New York City’s Latin Jazz community. Annette A. Aguilar is a true force of nature.