José Vazquez-Cofresi

José Vazquez-Cofresi (born September 18, 1975 in Biloxi, Mississippi) is a salsa percussionist, bandleader, composer and music producer.

José was born while his father was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, working to organized cultural activities. The family moved several times before settling in Birmingham in 1991. Vazquez-Cofresi attended John Carroll Catholic High School and began learning Latin percussion as part of the band with with other tutors.

He and his sister started a band, Latin Sounds, with trumpeter Bo Berry. During a Percussive Arts Society clinic at Middle Tennessee State University, Vazquez-Cofresi was offered a music scholarship to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. There he formed another band, Los Calientes Del Son. That group signed with Universal Music in 2001, shortened its name to Los Calientes, and relocated to New York City. Their debut album was delayed by the effects of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Vazquez-Cofresi took a job with ABC Television. He and vocalist Edwin Perez formed another band, La Excelencia which enjoyed some success through 2012. The following year, Perez and Vazquez-Cofresi relaunched that band as Orquesta Salsa con Conciencia (Orquesta SCC).

Vazquez-Cofresi's Fama Management represents Orquesta SCC as well as Perez and Orquesta SCC guitarist Yuniel Jiminez.

References

• Rohter, Larry (July 14, 2010) "La Excelencia, Salsa With Social Commentary." The New York Times