Biography

Mikata
Salsa and Latin Jazz
Orchestra

Mikata has been delighting audiences around the USA, in Canada and abroad for the past twenty years.

Recipient of the New Haven Arts Council Award for “outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the community”, and the HPN Latin Music Achievement Award, Mikata has performed at clubs in New York City, (S.O.B.’s, Heart Break, Danceteria, Pyramid Club), at colleges and universities around the country and at concerts and festivals in the US, Canada and Japan.

Mikata performs a full repertoire of hard-hitting Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero, Cha-cha and Latin Jazz.

The band is renowned for their contemporary arrangements of the great classics of Mambo and Salsa from the1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. This was the era when the dynamic, percussive quality of Latin music reigned supreme and Mikata brilliantly brings this element to the fore in its virtuoso performances.

Mikata’s repertoire includes new arrangements of Jazz classics, original songs and gripping folkloric-Salsa hybrids that foster a direct experience of the African-Caribbean roots of the music.

In addition to great Jazz soloing from the horn and rhythm sections, Mikata provides a short Salsa dance lesson during performances for those who need to brush up on their steps.

Mikata is a celebration of diversity and the group truly knows how to create community with their music. Whoever their audience is, Mikata is guaranteed to get them up, dancing and having the time of their lives.

Management: Richard Hill – ph: 203-787-4028; e-mail: mikata22@aol.com
www.mikatabeat.com

Concert and Festival Appearances

African World Festival – Detroit
International Festival of Arts and Ideas – New Haven, CT
Riverbend Festival – Chatanooga, TN
Hudson River Museum – Yonkers, NY
Peabody Museum -- New Haven, CT
Levitt Pavilion – Westport, CT
First Night Stamford, Westport, New Haven, Hartford
River Runs Deep Festival – Worcester, MA
Norwalk Oyster Festival – CT
Musical Arts Series -- Branford, CT
Charter Oak Cultural Center – Hartford, CT
Elizabeth Park Festival – Hartford, CT
Sail Fest – New London, CT
Celebrate Brooklyn – NY
Long Wharf Theater Main Stage Jazz Festival – New Haven, CT
Riverfront Recapture – Hartford, CT
SONO Arts Festival – Norwalk, CT
Black Rock Arts Center – Bridgeport, CT
Danbury Green Festival -- CT
Montreal Jazz Festival
British Art Museum – New Haven, CT
Yale Art Gallery – New Haven, CT
La Foret Cultural Center – Tokyo, Japan
Provincetown Art Museum – MA
School House Gallery – Truro, MA
Shubert Theater – New Haven, CT
Peabody Museum – New Haven, CT
Nuits D’Afrique -- Montreal

Night Club Appearances

Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Casino -- CT
Sounds of Brazil – NYC
Caffe Bottega – New Haven, CT
Irving Plaza – NYC
Azucar – Hartford, CT
Danceteria – NYC
Tree House Café – Portland, ME
Heartbreak – NYC
Barcelona – Hartford, CT
Pyramid Club – NYC
Balattou -- Montreal
The Edge – Tokyo
Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT



Colleges and Universities

Yale University – CT
Brown University – RI
RISD – RI
U. of Rhode Island
Bryant College – RI
Bowdoin College – ME
Columbia University -- NYC
SUNY Westbury – NY
SUNY Oswege -- NY
Ramapo College – NJ
U. of Hartford – CT
U. of Pennsylvania – PA
Fairfield University – CT
Bridgeport U. – CT
RPI – Troy, NY
Princeton U. -- NJ
U. of New England – ME
Elmira College – NY
Simon’s Rock -- MA
Conn. College – New London
UCONN – Storrs
UCONN -- Groton
U. of Mass. – Amherst
Amherst College – MA
Vassar College – NY
Housatonic Comm. College – CT
Gateway Comm. College -- CT
Wooster State College – MA
Wentworth Institute of Tech. – MA
Phila. College of Tech. and Science – PA
Greenfield Comm. College -- MA
Castleton State U. – VT
Bard College – NY
U. of South Carolina
Southeastern Mass. U
Wentworth Institute of Tech. – MA
Dean Junior College -- MA
Quinnipiac U. – CT
Central CT State U. – New Britain