“In one man’s opinion, I think Snowboy is doing, and can do, at ever higher and widening levels what The Beatles did for rock. I see him and his incredible combo as The Beatles of Mambo.”
Professor Robert Farris Thompson - Professor of Afro-Cuban Art,
History and Musicology, Yale University
Snowboy and the Latin Section are Europe’s leading Afro-Cuban Jazz performers and recording artists, led by multi-percussionist Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove.
So much Latin music these days has got so watered down or slow. There’s too much pandering to these Salsa dance classes. But my band is here to keep stoking the fire and ensure we make it exciting through our live performances and records the way Latin music is meant to be. We deliver the Mambo-influenced messages that Tito Puente did and Eddie Palmieri does.
Please go to the band’s EPK for more information.
As a percussionist in many styles, I have performed or recorded with Lisa Stansfield, Imelda May, Amy Winehouse, Rod Temperton, Mark Ronson, Basia, Simply Red, Makoto Kuriya, Flaco Jimenez, Airto Moreira, Deodato, Mick Hucknall, Herman Olivera, Jon Lucien, James Taylor Quartet, Mica Paris, Incognito, Patti Austin, Big Boy Bloater and many many more.
2016 will be Snowboy’s 30th anniversary, so watch out for news of many very special concerts and festivals.
als all over the world; including an Australasian and US tour.
Below are biog's of all the musicians in my band. I am very proud to have the 'Dream Team' of the U.K. based Latin/Jazz musicians. All are specialists in their own right. Please feel free to contact them via email.
BASIC INFO
Origin: London I UK
Years Active: 1985 - Present
Genre: Afro-Cuban Jazz
Label: Snowboy Records I London
Website: snowboy.info
“The Latin Section are a respectful, joyful conglomeration of Son, Salsa and Mambo which takes Afro Cuban music forward”
The Times
“The Conga King and his band deliver another exemplary lesson in liquid Latin Jazz”
Venue
“The full range and history of most of the Latin-Jazz movements since about 1943 are incorporated in this music. This is certainly for you”
The Beat
“Snowboy is proof positive that Cuban Soul has truly gone worldwide”
San Francisco Weekly
Davide Giovannini I Drums/Timbales/
Lead Vocals
Country: Italy
Born in Trieste, Italy, Davide became a professional musician before deciding to move to London to stay in touch with all the music styles he loved. It was the right choice for him and for us. Davide has worked with Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Lisa Stansfield, Bjork, Pet Shop Boys, James Galway, Cubanismo, Alex Wilson, Negrocan, Marlena Shaw, Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers, Conjuto Libre's Herman Olivera, Toninho Horta, Marcos Valle, Da Lata, Mike Lindup, Roy Ayers, Down To The Bone, Jim Mullen, Peven Everett, Vanessa Haynes, etc.
He co-founded progressive percussion duo Afroshock. Check out his new brazilian-jazz group "Minas Project".
David Pattman I Bongos
Country: U.K.
Dave is a specialist in Afro Cuban percussion and is highly knowledgeable in all aspects, particularly the music and rhythms of Santeria, and he is an incredible Bata drum player.
Dave has played for Cubanisimo, Anga Diaz, Patato Valdez, Alfredo De La Fe, Pucho, Daniel Ponce, Roberto Pla, Adalberto Santiago, Bebo Valdez, Alfredo Rodriguez, Azuquita, Tito Allen, Orlando Watusi, Phil Manzanera, Alex Wilson, Daniel Santos, Loose Tubes, Django Bates, Dudu Pukwana, Slim Gaillard, Colin Towns, Breath, McAlmont, Working Week, 'The Lion King' - Lyceum Theatre, London, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo and, has recently, toured with Cachaito Lopez. Of the many recordings Dave has done (Cubanisimo in Cuba, Slim Gaillard etc) the highlights surely are recording for Paul McCartney and the music for the film 'The Mummy Returns' with the London Sinfonia.
Paul Taylor I Trombone
Country: U.K.
This superb player has played for The Mingus Big Band, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood Of Breath, Loose Tubes, The Pogues, 3 Mustaphas 3, Roberto Pla's Latin Ensemble (a group in which he has backed so many of the world's leading Salsa artists), The Yiddish Twist Orchestra, and runs The Blowpipes Trombone Trio and a solo music/poetry project called Trombone Poetry. Paul's heavy duty solos play an integral part of the sound of The Latin Section.
Nico Gomez I Bass
Country: France
A class of his own, Nico plays with pinpoint precision and the ultimate groove. His playing has been used on records/live or on T.V. with Bjork, Lisa Stansfield (remix), Roy Hargrove (remix), Dom Um Romao, Adalberto Santiago, Herman Oliviera, Tony Allen, Mica Paris, Boy George, Mano Ventura, Afro Cuban All Stars, Azuquita, Michael Bolton, Orlando Watusi, Keith Le Blanc, Marc Antony (T.V.), Ricky Martin (T.V.), and, to his shame, T.V.'s with Shania Twain (only joking!)
Gary Plumley I Saxophone
Country: U.K.
This respected and world class saxophonist has played for Swing Out Sister, The Temptations, The Four Tops, George McCrea, Chesney Hawkes, Nik Kershaw, Gypsy Kings, Lisa Stansfield, Shakatak, The Cure (T.V. among other artists), George Michael, Sheila Ferguson, J.T.Q., Martha Reeves, Sax Appeal and is a regular member of Soul/Folk legend Terry Callier's band.
Sid Gauld I Trumpet
Country: U.K
Scottish born Sid is an in-demand session player who in the past 18 months as well as regularly working with Incognito and Snowboy and the Latin Section has worked with artists such as Chaka Khan, the Jacksons,Tom Jones, Reel People, Funkestra, Jocelyn Brown, The All stars (Including playing for Quincy Jones tribute), Brand New Heavies.Diane Shaw, Leon Ware and Mica Paris.
Previous credits include a wide range of music and genres : from West End shows (e.g. Miss Saigon) to Blur. These are just some of those for whom he has worked: Paul Weller, Tom Jones, Bloc Party, Vanessa Mae, William Orbit, Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, Tony Hadley, Mario Biondi, Alfredo Rodriguez, Azuquita, Charlie Palmieri, Midnight Oil, Lulu, Tito Allen,Brenda Russell,Tindersticks, The Cure, Al Green, Eddie Reader, Fleshtones, Patato Valdez, Stan Tracey, Daniel Ponce, Dave Stewart, Johnny Dankworth, Peter Green, Jeff Golub, Adalberto Santiago, Chucho Valdez, Courduroy, Mica Paris, Steps, Ray Charles, George Michael, Sinead O'Connor, Sting, Eternal, Burt Bacharach, Buddy Guy, Cyndi Lauper, Gerald Wilson, Bill Wyman, Beverley Craven, The Stranglers, Papaito, Right Said Fred and Blur.
Neil Angilley I Keyboards
Country: U.K.
Neil Angilley is a Keyboardist/Composer based in the UK. His Piano Trio have appeared at many venues across Europe and appeared at the 2009 International Jazz Festival in Italy & more recently at the 2015 Rye International Jazz Festival. The Trio have released two albums - 'Havana Club' & 'Chango' (available in the shop)
In 2014 he co wrote ' The Sweetness ' for Down To The Bone, which charted at number 1 in the USA ( Jazz/Funk/blues Billboard chart )
He has worked as Musical Director for Vanessa-Mae ( since 1998 ) & has performed/recorded with Maceo Parker, Roy Hargrove, Jeff Waynes 'The War of the Worlds', Down to the Bone, Three Friends (Gentle Giant), Lionel Richie, Lisa Stansfield and Shirley Bassey amongst many others.
Miles Ashton I Sound Engineer/Tour Manager
Country: U.K.
Miles was born in 1968 just off The Strand in what is now Charing Cross Police Station.
His dad is the founder of NYJO, so was thrown into mixing sound at the deep end at the age of 15 (and still feels just over 17 and a half).He used to have to get permission to leave high school early in order to get to band calls on time!
Miles has been all over the world touring, mixing live concerts, giving lectures and recording with many great artists and recorded/mixed/produced over 60 CDs including Charlie Watts, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Colosseum, Steve Swallow and James Taylor Quartet.
In about 1989, he was brought in to mix a show in Ronnie Scotts in London and has had an on going relationship with Ronnies ever since Pete King called him a c*** and said he "liked having me around"! Miles is currently the Technical Manager and this is where he first me met Snowboy whilst recording a live in-concert video for Lisa Stansfield in 2002. He took over as sound engineer in The Latin Section from Bluff when he sadly passed away.