The Flash™ movie above contains information about Saul Rayo and Cocina Del Mundo band members.
Saul Rayo. Saul is our lead singer and songwriter. He has been in the music business for over 30 years. Saul started his musical career in San Francisco, made his way to Nashville and has toured extensively across the United States. His music has taken him from remote places like Alaska to international cities like Paris, France. He is an extraordinary songwriter, having penned over 350 songs, some for Warner Music in Nashville, some for country legend Randy Travis. He also collaborated with Russell Smith of the legendary Rhythm Aces, Roger Hodson of "Supertramp" and John Hammond, Jr. Saul has shared the stage with countless stars such as Miriam Makeba, Taj Mahal, Jesse Colin Young, Leon Russell, Holly Near, Utah Phillips, John Prine, David Lindley, Steve Kimock and Joan Baez, just to name a few.
Saul performs on acoustic & electric guitars and a variety of ethnic drums and rhythm instruments. An inveterate showman, he has produced stage extravaganzas with up to 35 performers including tributes to Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison. We love you, Saul!
Jay "Bird" Ladner. Our multi-talented drummer, with French Louisiana roots in his bloodstream . Jay and Saul started the original band, playing together as a duet on percussion and guitars. Bird is multi-talented & multi-faceted on drums, timbales, tablas, djembe & other assorted percussion instruments. His innovative drumming style keeps the backbeat fresh and the dancers on the floor. Jay is an extremely versatile percussionist with Latin, Afro-Cuban, East Indian, funk and jazz influences. As a highly sought after session drummer, he has played well over 1,000 gigs. If he's not on stage, he's probably teaching drums and percussion. He also plays Flamenco guitar and writes and arranges his own music. Gotta love him!
Josh "Tree" Letcher. "Tree" is rhythmic flying dreadlocks on the 5-string fretless bass, congas, bongos and djembe. Josh and Jay grew up and have performed together in bands since high school. As our indomitable rhythm section, they form the foundation for our unique sound. Tree originally studied jazz-fusion and it's just our luck that he's also a fabulous funk and world beat performer. His musical tastes include the widely diverse styles of Jaco Pastorius, Bootsy Collins, Steve Kimock and pretty much all roots reggae... And, if there's a jam happening in the area, Josh will be there.
Thomas "Tominator" Schuebel. Austrian by birth, as a child Thomas sang at his church and was chosen to perform in the Viennese Boys Choir. His favorite childhood music was Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht Musik . From there he went on to discover the music of the world. His passion for traveling and music brought him to his first performance as a guitarist in Greece at the age of 17. Thomas' journeys led him to the indigenous music of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. He performed in various bands and settings throughout Europe, finally concentrating much of his time in Africa. There he studied the wonderful crazy quilt of African music and it comes through in his beautiful lead & rhythm guitar playing. Thomas has been playing and performing on guitar for more than 20 years. He also plays a variety of unusual stringed instruments, including bouzouki and British cittern.