Angel Luís Figueroa | SoultoneCymbals.com

Angel Luís Figueroa

Angel Luís Figueroa

Angel Luís Figueroa is an international class musician/vocalist who has toured, performed and recorded with many top tier artists. His innovative brand of percussion spans through Latin, R&B, hip hop, country, EDM, classical, jazz, folk and pop, to name a few. He recorded with Mongo Santamaria at a very young age and moved to California at age 26. He was educated at Loyola University in Chicago (Journalism), Santa Monica College (Music) and the University of Southern California (Jazz Studies). Angel Luís was initiated into the 'Havana' school of the Lucumí religious-folkloric tradition by Afro-Cuban Master, Lázaro Galarraga with whom he studied for 17 years.

Mr. Figueroa was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Afro-Latin Percussion at the USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Studies Department for 20 years. In addition to his course work he was also the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble Director and a Private Instructor at USC where he received several teaching commendations, university awards and professor accolades. Angel Luís has also received numerous grants from public organizations and private corporations including: the Chicago Council on Fine Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, the California Arts Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs in Los Angeles,The Nielsen Company, The Walt Disney Company and The Target Corporation.

LIVE PERFORMANCES & RECORDINGS
Herbie Hancock
Vinx
Kenny Loggins
Vikki Carr
Billy Preston
The Pointer Sisters
Phil Perry
Mongo Santamaria
Patti Austin
Maxwell
Biz Marquís Sting
Jackson Browne
Tito Allen
Chicago Symphony
Zap Mama
Ivan Neville
Parliament Funkadeliks
Andy Garcia
Marc Anthony
Celia Cruz
Mighty Mighty Bosstones Brian McKnight
Stewart Copeland
Boo-Yaa Tribe
WAR
Cheryl Crowe
Jon Voigt
Dom De Louis
Jeffery Osborne
The Drifters
Al Hudson
The Temptations
On Broadway, Angel Luís performed with Star Trek’s leading lady Nichelle Nichols in "Reflections," as well as, in the musical "Life and Times of Scott Joplin." He was Musical Director, musician, lead singer and principal actor in Maria Costa’s “Macho Men & the Women That Love Them.” Motion Picture sound tracks and appearances include MGM/UA pictures "Fires Within," starring Jimmy Smits and Greta Scacchi and Sony Pictures’ “Blow,” starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

Angel Luís has showcased for Television on: ‘VH-1 Live,’ ‘Live at the Apollo,’ ‘Tonight Show,’ ‘Arsenio Hall Show,’ ‘Vibe Show,’ ‘Late Show with David Letterman,’ ‘MTV Unplugged,’ ‘Chris Rock Show,’ ‘Canal Plus’ (Paris), ‘Live at Carnegie Hall,' ‘Akuhstic Café’ (Manila), ‘Keenan Ivory Wayans Show,' Jenny McCarthy Show and many others.

In Music Videos and Commercials, Angel Luís is featured in Maxwell’s ‘Get To Know Ya’ video; Toni Childs' music video, "Walk and Talk With the Angels," as well as, in Vinx's "Do Yaa" & with Kenny Loggins in "This Island Earth." Angel Luís is also featured in Nissan, Japan Air Lines, Sprite, NTT Cellular Phones and most recently Bose Acoustic Wave Speaker commercials with Herbie Hancock. Angel Luís was also the Musical Director on the "Macho Men and the Women that love them" DVD.

Angel’s experience also includes Lectures and Workshops at: Juilliard School of Music (NYC), Ruíz Belvis Cultural Center, Centro Unidad Latino, the Y.M.C.A., Casa Atzlán, The Association House, Urban Programs West-town, the Network for Youth Services in Chicago, Los Angeles Public Libraries, Chino State Penitentiary and the Virginia Ave Park Teen Center in Santa Monica, California. He also sat on the Board of Directors at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica for two years.

In 2012 Angel Luís joined with Chris James to create Cali Breeze Music Productions at Taíno Studios in Mid-City Los Angeles. The team has produced a wide variety of music including eclectic country artist Leah Jealene, hip hop master and R&B vocalist Kim Fields, jazz saxophone virtuoso Teddy Raven, Afro-Cuban Master Lázaro Galarraga, Brazilian percussion master Carlinhos de Oliveira and Latin music star La Palabra, to name a few. Their post production for films and commercials have made the duo a new and exciting multifaceted addition to the industry.

Mr. Figueroa is currently an Instructor at Paws Music, a public benefit organization based in Los Angeles that 'works to advance the Afro-Latin performing arts in their traditional and modern forms'. With branches in Southern California & New York City, the Paws Music organization continues to promote and advance the Afro-Latin performing arts.

Angel now leads the Jazz Posse which is scheduled to release their first CD titled "Sin" on the 50-50 Records Indie label. He is leader and musical director of Los Tres Caballeros, an acoustic Latin percussion vocal ensemble. Angel's salsa band, FLACO (Free Los Angeles Creative Orchestra), explores Latin genres with all original music and an amazing cast of musicians. You're listening to Ayer Te Ví, a new track from FLACO's first CD due to be released soon!

My Soultone Set: 

Angel Luís Figueroa Signature Series:

12" Natural White China
7" Bronze Bell
5" Bronze Bell
08" Latin Splash
10" Latin Splash