Santi Debriano

International Jazz bassist

Straight from NYC, PAL is excited to present Internationally renown Jazz bassist Santi Debriano, featuring Mamiko Watanabe on piano, Latin percussionist Robby Ameen on drums and Tenor saxophonist Tommy Morimoto.

Santi Debriano is one of the busiest jazz bassists in the New York area. In addition to leading his own bands, including the multi-ethnic jazz ensemble Circlechant, Debriano has been a member of the Don Pullen Trio, the Pharoah Sanders Group, the Sonny Fortune Group, the Billy Hart Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, the Larry Coryell Group, and the Archie Shepp Quartet. As a sideman, Debriano has performed with Chucho Valdés, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, Randy Weston, and Freddie Hubbard.

Grammy Award-winning drummer Robby Ameen has lived in New York City since the early ’80s and has established a recording and touring career stretching from Dizzy Gillespie to Paul Simon, while maintaining a more than 20-year relationship with Latin icon Ruben Blades as a member of Los Seis del Solar. Although he is of Lebanese origin, Ameen is best known for the unique and powerful Afro-Cuban jazz style he has developed. Other long-term musical relationships include Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, and Conrad Herwig’s multi-Grammy nominated Latin Side All-stars. He has recorded on over 200 records and played on numerous major film scores and television shows including the hit series Sex and the City.

Mamiko Watanabe was a semi-finalist at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition both in 2002 and 2003. She has toured Germany, Italy and Japan and has performed with jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Kevin Mahogany and Bobby McFerrin while in college. After moving to New York, she performed at notable venues including Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club at the Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Jazz at the Kitano and more. She has also appeared and featured at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Super Jazz Ashdod Festival in Israel and Penang World Music Festival in Malaysia.

Tommy Morimoto has performed at Ronnie Scott’s in London and the Coda Jazz Lounge in Bahrain and often in New York’s top jazz clubs ( Birdland, NYC Blue Note, The Iridium, Harlem Mist, Ginny’s, The Cotton Club, Lenox Sapphire, Minton’s.) Tommy’s proficiency at his instrument is no accident. Tommy has studied with such greats as George Coleman, Lew Tabackin, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Barry Harris, Art Lande, and Bob Mover. His professional experience is also vast and varied. He has performed at both the Monterey and Playboy jazz festivals, and has appeared in concert with Dave Brubeck, Joe Wilder, Junior Mance, Lee Konitz, Bob Cranshaw, Les Paul, Alex Layne, John Handy, Hank Jones, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, and the Charli Persip SuperSound Big Band. Tommy is also featured as a sideman on several recordings, including one with the legendary jazz vocalist Anita O’Day.