Juan Carlos Ortega profile picture

Juan Carlos Ortega

About Me

Juan Carlos Ortega was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. As a child, he played his mother's pots and pans as drums. At 15, he practiced on a pair of used timbales he managed to buy himself, and learned as much as he could by watching all of his favorite Latin musicians. Several years later, while helping a friend who was a roadie for artist Rudy Regalado of Rudy Regalado y Cheverre, Juan was able to learn even more by watching Rudy Regalado, and other musicians such as Kevin Ricard, Michito Sanchez, Tiki Pasillas, Poncho Sanchez, Justo Almario and Cachao perform on stage. Juan went on to improve his talent as a percussionist by studying with local musicians and taking various percussion and Latin percussion classes at LACC and Glendale Community College.Juan Carlos has played with such musicians as Octavio Figueroa of Octavio Figueroa y La Combinacion, Paul Lopez - trumpet/composer/producer, Bill Keis - producer/composer, solo artist - Michele Jusko, Walter Segundo of Walter II Y Rumbaney, Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca and Tito Puente Jr. to name a few. Although Juan had played with various local musicians, it seemed that he found his niche in the year 2000 when he was introduced to Orquesta Guayao through a mutual friend. Also in that year, Juan Carlos was approached by Timba, and was offered an endorsement with the company. After accepting, he signed a two year contract, and to date he remains an endorsee of Timba. Today, in addition to teaching students minor percussion and playing with various groups and artists around town, Juan Carlos maintains his passion of playing hard salsa and has taken on new and exciting responsibilities of percussionist with Angel Lebron y Su Sabor Latino, The Alex Arndt Band and son Del Alma.~~~Juan Carlos has had the privilege of performing at the following venues:Café Sevilla Club Salsa Century Club Cohibas Nightclub & Lounge Conga Room Coppacabana Cuban Bistro El Floridita Restaurant Florentine Garden’s Highland Grounds JC Fandango's Knitting Factory, The Los Angeles Convention Center Mayan, The Mama Juana's Molly Malones Monsoon Cafe Pig'n Whistle, The Quiet Cannon Banquets Rumba Room, The Salsa Club 2000 South Village, The Sport’s Mans Lodge Stevens Steak and Seafood House Temple Bar The Granada The Key Club The Mint The Tropicana Viper Room, The VIVE Latin Asian Fusion Dining & Lounge World Famous Lighthouse Café~~~

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Member Since: 09/10/2005
Band Website: GROUPS.MSN.COM/JUANORTEGAPERCUSSIONIST
Band Members: Juan Carlos is currently the conga player/percussionist for Orquesta Guayao, Angel Lebron y Su Sabor Latino, The Alex Arndt Band, L.A. Rumba, Son Del Alma, Colored Chalks and Semi-Trailer . Also doing work with Solo Artist Michele Jusko.ORQUESTA GUAYAO @ TAPA'S - NEWPORT BEACH, CA ~ NOV. 2008ORQUESTA GUAYAO @ TAPA'S - NEWPORT BEACH, CA ~ NOV. 2008ORQUESTA GUAYAO - 12TH FERIA AGOSTINA INTERNACIONAL 2007 ORQUESTA GUAYAO - 12TH FERIA AGOSTINA INTERNACIONAL 2007 DANCING TO ORQUESTA GUAYAO - LAS VEGAS SALSA CONGRESS 2007 ORQUESTA GUAYAO - RUMBA ROOM - UNIVERSAL CITY WALKORQUESTA GUAYAO - SALSA AT VIVE LATIN ASIAN FUSION LOUNGE - OLD TOWN PASADENA..ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - MAMA JUANA'S ~ DEC 27, 2007ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - MAMA JUANA'SANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO'S - DEMOANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - STEVENS STEAK HOUSE/BATTLE OF THE BANDS ~ APR 27, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - CAFE SEVILLA LONG BEACH ~ MAY 25, 2008. DURING THE BANDS BREAK THE POWER WENT OUT, FORCING THE DANCERS TO STOP. AS PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY ARE, THE BAND WENT BACK AND PERFORMED AN UN-REHEARSED IMPROVISED JAM TO KEEP THE DANCERS ON THEIR FEET. SOMEONE KNEW THEY HAD TO VIDEO TAPE THIS IMPROVISED JAM! THE APPLAUSE AND THANKFULLNESS BY THE CROWD WAS INCREDIBLE. WHAT PROFESSIONALISM!!ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - CAFE SEVILLA LONG BEACH ~ MAY 25, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - CAFE SEVILLA LONG BEACH ~ MAY 25, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - CAFE SEVILLA LONG BEACH ~ MAY 25, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO @ CAFE SEVILLA - LONG BEACH, CAANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO - THE MAYAN ~ JUNE 14, 2008 ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO @ THE OXNARD SALSA FESTIVAL - OXNARD, CA ~ JULY 27, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO @ THE OXNARD SALSA FESTIVAL - OXNARD, CA ~ JULY 27, 2008ANGEL LEBRON Y SU SABOR LATINO @ THE OXNARD SALSA FESTIVAL - OXNARD, CA ~ JULY 27, 2008
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

I was on the Fox 11 news!! :)

Hey guys! Check it out, i came out on the Fox 11 News.  At least my face was shown for a split second anyway...lol.  It was our performance with Angel Lebron Y Su Sabor Latino at Hollen...
Posted by on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:27:00 GMT

Article: Angel Lebron Y Su Sabor Latino at Zen Sushi, in Silver Lake

A BIG thanks to Dena Burroughs of Vida Salsera for the article on Angel Lebron Y Su Sabor Latino at Zen Sushi. You can check out the whole article with the pictures at: http://www.vidasalsera.com/ange...
Posted by on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:14:00 GMT

A BIG thanks to Solo Sabor for attending our Cafe Sevilla performance?

A BIG thanks to Solo Sabor for attending Orquesta Guayao's performance at Cafe Sevilla on October 25, 2007.  Check out the pictures taken by Solo Sabor posted on Solosabor.com's picture gall...
Posted by on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:48:00 GMT

All-time greatest Latin Percussionist Ray Barreto passed away

  (Juan Carlos with Ray Barreto backstage at the Watercourt in Downtown, LA July 08, 2006) Ray Barretto passed on to a better life as of 5 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2006, New York ...
Posted by on Sat, 18 Feb 2006 15:28:00 GMT