Yabanada is a collaboration of Texas Blues spiced with New Orleans Funk, Latin Rhythms & Jazz Harmonies. A veritable "Blues Stew" with diverse influences from Little Feat, Santana, & the Allman Brothers to the Funky Meters, Miles Davis & Monk.
The heart of the groove is driven by Drummer Jack Stoker, a veteran of Texas dance halls, has been seen more than a few times on stage with Sammy Hagar, with a solid pulse: courtesy of Bassist Dean Vallecillo, veteran of the vibrant musical watersheds of New Orleans & the Napa Valley Area.
Rhythmic spice is delivered by Percussionist Shane Bogardus, playing double drums & timbales, using chops assimilated from 20+ years of playing the East Coast concert circuit, including jams with Darius Rucker & the Spin Doctors.
Richard Conine, studied sax under the legendary Tony Campise of the Stan Kenton big band, & now contributes his accomplished arrangement skills while also providing soulful accompaniments playing keyboards, flute & saxophones.
Original by nature, the band features songs by guitarist Benjamin Lin, returned from an 8 year stint with a Middle East, 40's style Bahraini jazz band.
Ric Gallegos, a 30+ year professional, world touring, master trombonist making the rounds from the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland to the Corpus Christi & Victoria Symphony Orchestras, adds sweet & tasty Trombone stylings with Muscle Shoals Caliente flavor.
Ric Gallegos began performing on his trombone with south Texas Tejano bands, while barely a teenager. He cut his first record with La Juventud, at the tender age of 16, & went on tour with the Zavala Tejano Band, shortly after graduating from high school.