Biography
Rebeca Mauleón stands out among West Coast Latin jazz figures as a seasoned educator, producer, and performer whose career began with stage work alongside Steve Windwood and Carlos "Patato" Valdez. Early arranging assignments on Tito Puente's Goza Mi Timbal, Windwood's Junction Seven, and Valdez's Ritmo y Candela quickly established her rising profile in that role. Subsequent engagements with Israel "Cachao" López, Sheila E., and Carlos Santana prompted her to issue instructional volumes that include the 1993 Salsa Guidebook and the 1997 Latin Real Book, both of which became foundational references across the expanding Latin jazz community. The 1999 release 101 Montunos appeared while she served as musical director for Mickey Hart's Planet Drum ensemble, a position that placed her before large festival crowds and on nationally broadcast programs such as Conan O'Brien and Live! with Regis and Kathy Lee. Those years also introduced her to premier percussionists who remained ongoing collaborators. With their participation she issued her first solo album, Round Trip, in 1999, followed by Latin Fire in 2004 and Descarga en California in 2006; each project drew on leading Latin jazz players including Giovanni Hidalgo, Orestes Vilató, and Armando Peraza. The recordings' strong reception led to frequent invitations for clinics and master classes on both historic and modern Latin music styles worldwide.
Albums