Cuban Pianist Marcos Crego

Amazing Cuban pianist, Marcos Crego, a main feature of the great Cuban bands,  Klimax and NG La Banda, will be playing in the beautiful setting of  Paradiso Santa Fe.
Selections will include romantic songs in the Cuban Son style. He will be backed by the finest musicians in New Mexico:
Marcos Crego, piano
Asher Barreras, bass
Jesse Joaquin Parker, vibes
Tomás White, drums
Alex Murzyn, sax, flute

Jose Marcos Crego Tamayo is a pianist who was born in Havana, Cuba. Marcos started
his initial music studies in the Conservatory of Music Manuel Saumell, in his native city
when he was just eight years old. Since he was a child, Marcos followed in the footsteps
of his father, the great trumpet player Jose Miguel Crego “El Greco”, playing piano and
singing on a few records. This paved the way and inspired him to participate in various
musical groups with his classmates. He then attended and graduated from high school
at Amadeo Roldán Music School.

After graduation, Marcos’ career took off and he performed with many famous
musicians, including but not limited to Los Dan, Talismán, ICRT Orchestra, Top Secret
with his father, as well as Klimax, Gardi’s band, Francisco Cespedes, The Arango
Brothers, and Afrocuban All Stars. Marcos has also played in many jazz festivals
including Pop Kom, Curaçao Heineken Jazz Festival, Jazz Plaza Festival, Benny More
Festival, Fiesta del Tambor, Blues Festival, Jazz Fandango Festival, and Pori Jazz Festival.
When he was 21, he produced his first album named Mi Musica, this was the start of his
career as a musical producer. He also collaborated as a pianist and keyboard player in
various albums, such as Top Secret’s Volm.1, Klimax’s "Oye como va", “Piloto & Friends”,
“Nadie se parece a ti”, Francisco Céspedes’ “Autorretrato", Hermanos Arango’s "Alafia",
Hector Valentin’s "Homenaje a los Grandes del Son" and many more.

In January 2012, Marcos received two Grammy Nominations as he performed on Edwin
Bonilla’s album “Homenaje a los Rumberos” under Sonic Projects Records. Marcos
currently resides in Phoenix and is the piano instructor for the New School for the Arts
and Academics in Tempe, AZ from 2013 to 2018 was the pianist of the very well-known
Cuban band The Afro-Cuban All Stars directed by Juan de Marcos Gonzales, the creator
of the Buena Vista Social Club.