Cradle Duende presents a fusion of Klezmer & Balkan influenced melodies with Latin rhythms, and eco-conscious hip-hop lyrics. Cradle Duende takes its name from the Spanish word “duende”, in reference to a musically heightened state of emotion, expression; and a merging of disparate musical traditions that each evolved from independent cradles of civilization. Cradle Duende brings the strength of deep cultural roots into the party atmosphere!
-Individual Bios-
Justin Ancheta; Guitar & Vocals
Justin Ancheta is a guitarist, vocalist, and composer . Hailing from San Francisco, he is a conscious spreading, influential voice in today’s culture. A rarity, Ancheta is a bike-touring artist making waves and setting precedents across the globe with his lyrics, which share the human power of community. Ancheta’s eclectic style of reggae flavored funk and jazz is infectious. Ancheta has played with Joan Baez, Tunisia’s MC Rai, opened for the Wailers, Creedence Clearwater Survival, Charles Neville, and Ricky Skaggs. Ancheta was a featured artist at the Hawaii Spirit Festival 2010 on North Shore Oahu, Wanderlust Festival Lake Tahoe, MannaFest Grass Valley, headlined Barcelona’s first Bicycle Music Festival, and was a featured artist at San Francisco’s prestigious Yoshi’s Jazz Club. His newest CD, ‘Plant’ was April 2013. Ancheta also heads up the multifaceted Soul Graffiti Productions: Kindess towards another Soul. More information at www.justinancheta.com and www.soulgraffiti.info
Morgan Nilsen; Clarinet
Eastman School of Music graduate Morgan Nilsen earned a Bachelors of Music in clarinet performance and the diploma in Ethnomusicology. Nilsen studied under the direction of the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s former principal clarinetist Jon Manasse, as well as taking several lessons with internationally acclaimed klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer.
After touring as Music Director of an International touring klezmer band for 1 1/2 years, Nilsen acted as the music programs coordinator at Zambaleta World Music School in San Francisco-supporting the start of a local multi-cultural education.
Currently Nilsen teaches clarinet at the ‘San Francisco School’, plays in the Inspector Gadje Balkan Brass Band; MWE (Turkish) with several orchestral ensembles, theater companies, and local singer song-writers.
Sound Samples: Morgan Nilsen
Paul Bertin; Saxophones
Hailing from France, speaking English, French, and Russian, Paul brings the Balkan & Latin flavor to the ensemble. Bertin has served as a Sound Designer for “Gaia” (Nominated for the Toronto Film Festival) Sound Editor, Sound Engineer and graduaed from the SAI Institude of Los Angeles & Paris. Bertin is an expert in Jazz Improvisation, Composition, & Electronic Music.
Adam Lowdermilk (Bass)
Do not be fooled by Adam’s constant, never-ending optimism; when it comes time to slapeh de bass… hearts will break, and booties will shake. With a background in soul, free jazz, and deep pocketed funk, Adam brings to the table fresh groove and great attitude. A native Californian, Adam grew up surfing Black’s Beach in San Diego, eventually making his way north to Oakland via Santa Cruz. Adam holds an MFA in music performance from Mills College in Oakland, CA and has shared the stage with such diverse artists as Roscoe Mitchell, Albino! Afrobeat, Groundation, Interactivo, Blackbird Blackbird, STRFKR, Danay Suarez, Lil’ Kim, Fred Frith, Zeena Parkins, William Winant, Tammi Brown, Cradle Duende, Johnny Carson, and Larry Dunlap, to name a few. Most recently, Adam had the privilege of performing at the Festival International Jazz Plaza in Havana, Cuba with the Will Magid 4.
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Jesse Weber received a Bachelors Degree in music performance from the University of Montana in 2000. At the U of M, Weber studied with Bob Ledbetter, Lance Boyd, Andy Narrell, Peter Erskine, Fred Simpson, Julie Spencer, Horacio “El Negro” Hernendez, and several other guest artists with the Islanders Steel Band, the U of M percussion Ensemble, and the Buddy De Franco Jazz festival. Weber became enthralled with the African roots of percussion and began intensive studies of the music of Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, and Cuba. Jesse Weber began playing with Los Rumberos De Montana, an Afro – Cuban drum and dance group. With this group, he travelled to Havana Cuba and played in the famous Callejon De Hamel with the group Clave Y Guaguanco. In Cuba he learned congas, timbale, bongo, cajon, and the rhythms of the sacred Bata drums. Jesse helped found a nonprofit, The First Day Project, dedicated to bringing music and dance to the masses. Jesse has been studying, teaching, performing, and living music, in San Francisco since 2002. He has shared the stage with Bay Area’s superstars including Sandy Perez, Carlos Aldama, Jose Francisco Barroso, Chris “Flaco” Walker, Michael Spiro, Jesus Diaz, Colin Douglass, Matt Lucas, Javier Navarette, Carlitos Medrano, Patricio Arguello, and Toby Ghaster. Jesse is currently pursuing several musical projects covering a wide variety of musical styles.
Dave Goebel, DrumSet Dave has enjoyed music for his entire life. Starting piano lessons at 3, he got a taste for playing but soon he developed the desperate need to rock and switched to the drums. After continuing drum lessons and playing in various bands, he attended the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Rich Thompson and graduated with a B.M. in Jazz performance. Being a drummer made it easy to explore different genres and Dave made a name for himself as a versatile musician with experience playing everything from Jazz to Funk to musical theater to avant garde Rock. In the years after college Dave played in the northeastern U.S. and Canada with shows in New York, Boston, Toronto, Burlington, Buffalo, and Philadelphia, among other cities. In 2012 Dave moved across the country from Rochester, NY to Oakland, CA and is involved in the San Francisco Bay area music scene as a drummer and a music teacher. Current projects include the Balkan/Latin sextet Cradle Duende and the Soul music project The Champales |
Cradle Duende 
