14NOV2021 – LHK AD.mp4
As the Damian J Project flourished in 2013 as Miami’s Open Source Musical Collaboration, beginning with the TRAD305, a growing concern for detailing the history of Jazz accurately, occurred. This consensus combined with the inquiry of local establishment, Barceloneta, seeking a Latin Jazz ensemble; all contributed to the creation of Los Havana Knights. Founded by Damian J, Walkain “Chino” Dieguez, Naldo LaBoy & Elmer Ferreira, the knights took to the streets of Miami, spreading their origins of Latin Jazz from its inception on the island of Cuba in the 1940s. Since 2014, Los Havana Knights have continuously performed throughout all of South Florida and beyond. Throughout the years, several world-class musicians have imparted their knowledge of this sub-genre of jazz music with their performances. Currently, Los Havana Knights feature Axel Aleman on the contrabass and electric bass, a graduate of the Florida International University and who has traveled as far as Montreux, Switzerland to play his bass. Jimmy Granda joins him on the piano and backup vocals, a Cuban national that graduated from the top conservatory in Santa Clara, Cuba on the trumpet and now contributes his unique perspective on this music on the piano. On the woodwinds and lead vocals is the common denominator between all DJP Ensembles, Damian J, a graduate of the University of Memphis who has traveled the world performing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra besides promoting his own self-released album, “Sessions 33 1/3”. But Los Havana Knights would not be complete without its legendary percussion master, Walkain “CHINO” Dieguez, who, at 87 years young, continues sounding at the top of his game, performing throughout South Florida. Chino has had the honor of performing with everyone from Beny More, legendary Cuban crooner, to Carlos Santana, an international guitar sensation. Together Los Havana Knights reignite the fusion between American improvisation, the key component of Jazz music, and the native Latin rhythms of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brasil, and all of Latin America.
