Patrick Alban

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Juan Carmona
Juan Carmona, our dear friend and guitar player, who has been with the band for the past 7 years, decided to put his energy into his other job for financially secure reasons. I haven't talked to Juan for the past few months, but last Saturday, April 21st, I received a disturbing call from a friend that Juan was in the hospital. I went to visit Juan that afternoon and found out that he was very ill. Unfortunately, Juan does not have any family in the United States and I took it upon myself that I would help Juan get better. But, Juan's physician stated that told me that Juan wasn't going to get better. Juan's last wishes are to go home and spend his last days with his family, who love him very much and are anxiously waiting for him. I'm doing my best so I can send him home ASAP, and I'm making the nessessary arrangements with the Peruvian embassy to send him home. Juan is one of the nicest human beings I've ever met and not only a great friend, but a wonderful and 'one of a kind' guitar player-there is only one "Stevie Ray Juan." Thanks to all of you for your continuous support and love for Juan. We are planning to have two or three benefits in his honor, with all of the proceeds going to his 13 year old son and wife in Peru. I have talked to his wife on the phone personally and she also thanks all of you for your prayers and concerns. The first benefit will be held at Madams Organ in DC on Thursday, May 10th, with a lot of musician friends coming by and sitting in with Noche Latina. From me personally, I thank you all for making his life so pleasant. We are all fortunate to have known Juan. God Bless you, Patrick.
Welcome
At the age of 10, Patrick Albán began playing his passion of playing the acoustic guitar. By the age of 12, he won in the 3rd Annual Christian Festival in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Competing against some of the best Christian bands in the country, Patrick placed in 1st and 5th place, with two of his original songs.
At the young age of 16, Patrick moved to the United States. Attending Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 20, Patrick aspired to become a musical creation in Spanish and English.
His music today is a combination of Latin and acoustic rock with a touch of salsa and a South Beach feel. His repertoire includes Brazilian sambas, Cuban music, tangos, boleros, salsa, blues, Gypsy Kings, and The Buena Vista Social Club, just to name a few. His talents for musical language include singing in English, Spanish, Gypsy and Portuguese.
With the help of the best musicians in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area, Patrick has produced four albums; 2 albums in 1997, a Spanish Christian album, “Tu Canción Señor” and one in English “No More 22’s”. His CD “Patrick Albán and Noche Latina” was released in October 2001. This musical work has a Latin-Spanish beat and features Juan Cheito Quiñones, a back up singer and percussionist for The Gloria Estefan Band and The Miami Sound Machine
In November 2003, Patrick Alban and Noche Latina released a DVD which included four live songs and the biography of Patrick and the band. A boxed set, including the latest CD, "Patrick Alban and Noche Latina" and DVD, was also released in November 2003. All of Patrick's music and merchandise can be purchased at any of the shows or at www.gabirecords.com
In 2006 Patrick and his band released the much anticipated new album "Ojos Verdes" with the collaboration of the best musicians around and some new surprises and again with the collaboration from Recording Artists Juan "Cheito" Quiñones and the great Edwin Bonilla (The Miami Relatives) both members of The Gloria Estefan Band and The Miami Sound Machine (Edwin Bonilla has one of the hottest salsa albums in Europe) for an up date check the new "Ojos Verdes" page!
Patrick Albán and Noche Latina were nominated in 2000 and 1999 by WAMA (Washington Area Music Association) for Best Latin Band and Best Latin Vocalist. They also performed live at the 2000 WAMA awards ceremony, which was covered by the Washington Post as well as Public Television.
On April 12, 2000, Patrick and his band preformed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This performance is available at the Kennedy Center’s website. You can find that link by clicking right HERE
Patrick has been involved in producing a few of Baltimore’s local artists, including Brian Jack, formally a member of “Child’s Play” in the making of “Collage”, Brian’s solo album. Patrick was personally involved in the song, “Still Strong”, which he originally wrote and played acoustically for the “Collage” album. “Still Strong” was re-released by Patrick himself on his 1997 album, “No More 22’s.” You can become a member of Patrick Albán’s list serve by emailing him at [email protected] This email comes out biweekly, and gives updates to all his fans about his musical endeavors, as well as his latest venues, festivals, benefits and club shows. For details about the band and Patrick as well as their show dates, check out www.gabirecords.com