Gabriel Espinosa & Ashanti Latin Jazz

International jazz performer and Des Moines Jazz Center Hall of Famer Gabriel Espinosa appears in Cedar Rapids for an exclusive performance, joined on the bill by his former student and vocalist Kiersten Conway. Gabriel Espinosa was born in Merida, Mexico. Gabriel attended Central College in Pella, IA where he received a BA in music in 1976. He then attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1983. In his last year at Berklee, Gabriel formed the group “Ashanti” along with his friend and classmate George Robert. During that year Ashanti performed all over Boston, and from 1984 to 1991, Ashanti performed in Cancun, MX. Gabriel then attended the University of North Texas in Denton, TX where he received his Masters Degree in Jazz studies in 1995. The next year, Gabriel returned to Central College in Pella, IA, where he became Director of Jazz Studies. With his return to Iowa came the return of Ashanti, and in the years that followed, the band recorded three albums and toured all over the Midwest and Mexico. In 2008, Gabriel celebrated 40 years in music. Over the next few years Gabriel recorded numerous albums and toured the United States, Mexico and Europe. But Gabriel has always returned to Iowa, and in 2010 Gabriel presented his “From Yucatan to Rio" album at the Iowa City Jazz Festival, and several years later, held an album release concert at the Pella Opera House. During 2012, Gabriel's album “Celebrando” spent 26 weeks in the Jaz