Bob Quaranta

Bob Quaranta, pianist, received his B.A. in music theory from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts. For over ten years, he was a member of Mongo Santamaria's band and served as MusicAL director. Additionally, he composed songs for the band, five of which appeared on Mongo’s recordings. Two recordings Bob appeared on with Mongo were nominated for Grammy Awards: Mongo Magic and Espiritu Libre. Quaranta has also performed and/or recorded with: Dave Valentin, Willie Colon, Ray Barretto, Tommy Igoe, Angel Canales and John "Jellybean" Benitez.

With John Scofield, he recorded on the Yamaha instructional video The Drumset, A Musical Approach. Other studio sessions include TV commercials for IBM and soundtrack work for Vestron Video. Quaranta has also recorded a piano disk for the Yamaha Disklavier. He appears on the Hudson Music Drummers Collective 25th Anniversary Celebration & Bass Day 2002 DVD and CD. He continues to serve as an integral member of the Ed Palermo Big Band and currently is on the faculty at The Collective 1 in New York City. He is also playing piano with Andrea Brachfeld and the Phoenix Rising Latin Jazz Ensemble. In his book, Latin Jazz: The First of The Fusions, John Storm Roberts described Quaranta's playing as "magnificent."

Additionally, Jellybean Benitez's record, Just Visiting This Planet, which Quaranta appeared on, achieved gold status (RIAA Certification.) Also, Willie Colon's Top Secrets, another record Quaranta appeared on, gained platinum status (RIAA Certification).

DISCOGRAPHY

Mongo Santamaria

• ''Afro Blue: The Picante Collection (Concord)

• Free Spirit/Espiritu Libre (M.I.L. Multimedia)

• Live at Jazz Alley (Concord)

• Mucho Mongo: Soca Me Nice/Olé Ola (Concord)

• Olé Ola (Concord)

• Skin on Skin: The Mongo Santamaria Anthology (Rhino)

• Soca Me Nice (Concord)

• Soy Yo (Concord)

• Mongo Magic (Roulette)

• Instant Party (Concord)

• Mucho Mambo Mongo (Recall)

• Slap It (12" Single) (TBS)

Angel Canales

• Ya Es Tiempo (Top Ten Hits)

• Different Shades of Thought (Universal Music Latino)

Ed Palermo Big Band2

• Papier Machè (Vile Heifer)

• Ping Pong (Pro Jazz)

• Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (Astor Place)
• Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Cuneiform)

Various

• Concord Picante 25th Anniversary (Concord)

• Concord Records 30th Anniversary (Concord)

• Drummers Collective 25th Anniversary and Bass Day 2002 (DVD/CD) (Hudson Music)

• Zappanale 13 (DVD/CD) (Gema)

• 2006 Detroit International Jazz Festival (Mack Avenue Records, Inc.)

Jellybean Benitez Just Visiting This Planet (Chrysalis)

Andrea Brachfeld Remembered Dreams (Latin Cool)

Chris Coleman Ecclesiastes 12:13

Willie Colon Top Secrets (Fania)

Eisenhauer Bros. Orchestra Golpeando Hiero (DROPS)

Guido Freddi Taranta Steps (Guido Freddi)

Tommy Igoe New Ground (Premier)

Bob Quaranta La Bamba (Yamaha Disklavier)

Adalberto Santiago Cosas Del Alma (WS Latino)

Patricia Tortorici New York Story ([sic] sisters)

Charts

Grammy Nominations