BUENA VISTA SOCIAL ORCHESTRA

Tickets for this performance go on sale to the public on Friday, April 26 at 10am. Interested in reserving your seats before the public? Members of Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts have access to an exclusive presale starting Thursday, April 25 at 10am. Call (727) 300-2000 to reserve your seats and to learn more about the perks of membership!

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JESUS “AGUAJE” RAMOS (born 1951) is a Cuban trombonist, composer, arranger and musical director. He is best known as the original orchestra leader, composer and trombonist of The Buena Vista Social Club. He has also served long stints in world class ensembles Estrellas de Areito and Afro-Cuban Allstars. His musical journey and history is brought into focus throughout the critically acclaimed 1999 documentary “Buena Vista Social Club.”

Ramos performed on the World Circuit recordings of The Buena Vista Social Club and Afro-Cuban Allstars and the solo albums of Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzales and Omara Portuondo. He was Gonzales’s musical director and has been touring extensively since 1997 with various Buena Vista Social Club projects. He was a prominent member and musical director of the renowned Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, which brought the music of the original Buena Vista Social Club back into international prominence during the incredibly successful ‘Adios’ Tour from 2014-2016.

The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, under the direction of Ramos and featuring key players from throughout the history of The Buena Vista Social Club, continues the legacy of the legendary group in 2024 with an exciting new stage production and repertoire pulled from the greatest hits (many of which Ramos composed) and deep-dive cuts. The group has amassed over 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify with their debut album on SSK Records Greatest Recorded Performances, with another album due out later this year.

Ramos is joined on this inaugural tour by an all star ensemble including original BVSC members “Betun” Luis Mariano Valiente Marin (Congas, Bongo), Emilio Senon Morales Ruiz (Piano) and Fabían Garcia (Bass).

To date, The Buena Vista Social Club and related projects have global sales that stand at over fifty million, making it the biggest-selling Cuban music project in history. As one critic put it, Buena Vista has become “world music’s equivalent of The Dark Side of the Moon.”

THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL ORCHESTRA

JESUS “AGUAJE” RAMOS – Trombone, Music Director, Conductor  *

LORENA LAZARA RAMOS DIAZ – Trombone,  Vocals

ALDO ISIDRO MIRANDA ALVAREZ – Vocals

GEIDI CHAPMAN – Vocals, Guitar

EMILIO SENON MORALES RUIZ – Piano *

FABIAN GARCIA – Bass *

ANTONIO REMIGIO RUBIO BORAYO – Timbal, Percussion

LUIS “BETUN” MARIANO VALIENTE MARIN – Congas, Bongo *

ROGELIO RICARDO OLIVA ORELLY – Emcee, Vocals

*ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB

MEET & GREET PACKAGE INCLUDES:

-One premium reserved ticket in the first 5 rows

-Priority entry into the venue

-Exclusive meet & greet with original members of the Buena Vista Social Orchestra

-Personal photograph with original members of the Buena Vista Social Orchestra

-Collectible Buena Vista Social Orchestra tour poster; Autographed

-Buena Vista Social Orchestra Tote Bag

-Exclusive VIP merchandise item

-Commemorative tour laminate and lanyard