Nerio DeGracia

Nerio grew up in San Francisco, CA. Early in his youth there was a turning point of his musical career that would develop in later years. He would go to Dolores Park all day where everybody would come and play the rumbas, comparsas, bembe, abacua, guaguanco, colombia rumba and mozambique. It was a learning place. where every body teaches each other. The likes of unknown rumbero/musician then would be Babatunde Lea, Teddy strong, John Santos, Jose Flores, Kike, Rafael Ramirez, Raul Recow, to name a few and many other prominent percussionist. Other luminaries, such as Armando Peraza, Coke and Pete Escovedo and many other musicicians would come by and just listen or sit in. It was a place to be, during hot summer Sundays.

Nerio's education in music continued at City college of San Francisco both in classical and jazz theory, which led to performing with the City College Big Band under the direction of David Hardiman. He went on to study jazz improvisation studies under John Handy at SFSU. Further extensive studies in harmony and theory resulted in the written compositions on his album. Citing such greats as Tito Puente, Milt Jackson, Cal Tjader and Mongo Santa Maria as influences, Nerio quickly developed respect among musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area resulting in his joining of the popular Latin Rock band, Malo in which toured including a concert at Shea Stadium in New York, with Fania All Stars. Having simultaneously expanded his musical skills to include the vibraphone and marimba. Nerio joined master percussionist Francisco Aguabella that featured yet another legend in latin percussion, Armando Peraza. The liason resulted in a album "Hittin Hard" and performances around the Bay Area at Winterland and The Fillmore. Through out the remainder of the years, Nerio played with a virtual "Who's Who" of San Francisco Bay Area Latin and Jazz talent including Carlos Federico, percussionist Babatunde Lea and Pete and Sheila Escovedo's band. In the latter years, Nerio has developed close ties with some of the Bay Area's finest musicians, and many of which are found on his critically acclaimed album , "An Evening in Luzon". He has perfected the interpretation of the Mambo Jazz improvisation that will mesmerize you in listening or dancing. Now he has established his group called, The Nerio DeGracia Mambo Jazztet.