Picante was Founded in 2012 by trumpeter and current band leader Bryant Allard. This 7 piece ensemble includes some of the finest musicians in the Portland area performing both traditional afro cuban music and a fusion of latin jazz. Their repertoire includes the music of Pancho Sanchez, Tito Puente, Chucho Valdez, Carlos Federico, Dextor Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Wes Montgomery, as well as original music composed and arranged by Bryant Allard and Catarina New Martin. Audiences love Picante for its diversity of music and fiery latin rhythms. 

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Picante

“Live Concert” Medley

Band Members

Bassist: Al Criado born in Havana, Cuba, started playing professionally in Chicago at age nineteen. He later moved to Los Angeles where he performed and recorded. Al is presently residing in the Portland area and known as “The Latin Bassist”. Al’s versatile musicianship has led him to perform with luminaries Alex Acvuna, Luis Conte, Sammy Davis jr, The Fifth Dimension, Dizzy Gilespie, Eddie Harris, Eartha Kitt, Lou Rawls, Dianne Reeves, Dave Valentin and many more..

Percussionist: Al Martin hails from Los Angles and began his professional career at the age of 17. Al has performed in many genres from the U.S. Air Force Jazz Band Ensemble to the Carnival Comparsas of Panama, to Ipanema beach of Brazil. He has also performed with Salsa Orchestra El Grand Combo de Puerto Rico, Poncho Sanchez, Chuchito Valdez, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and sharing the stage with Santana and Alice Coltrane. 

Saxophonist: Catarina New has made a great impact in the jazz community in Sweden, New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and now Portland, Oregon. In a short period of time she has made her mark in the Portland area as soulful saxophonists. Catarina’s sensual vocals and great originals have also helped her build a large dedicated following. A Masters degree in music, performing with greats such as; Bobby Shew, Kenny Burrell, and Barbara Morrison, a 2006 Award as Southern California’s Best Solo Artist, a featured artist at the Playboy Jazz Series in Los Angeles and the Jazz Musician of the Month, July 2012 Oregon Jazz Society. 

Pianist: Devin Sanders grew up among the redwoods of Northern California, moving to Eugene, Oregon in 1998, then to Portland in 2003. He plays regularly in the Portland area with groups such as Salsa Caliente, Cuban Son group Lo Nuestro, and Latin quartet Sonasi. He has collaborated and performed with jazz legends Dick Hyman, Frank Wess, and Peter Appleyard, vocalist Marilyn Keller, blues master Don Latarski, and guitarist Mike Denny. He has appeared as a guest artist with the Eugene Symphony, toured with indie singer/songwriter and guitarist virtuoso Justin King, performed with Pepe and the Bottle Blondes, and his jazz quartet opened for Lou Rawls. Graduate of the University of Oregon’s Jazz Studies Program where he studied with Gary Versace, Steve Owen, and Randy Porter and was the recipient of a Downbeat magazine award for Jazz Arranging. 

Drummer Adam Carlson is a Bend, OR native now living in Portland, Oregon as a freelance musician. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2014 with a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies (Cum Laude), and has performed hundreds of times around the Northwest. Adam also spent a year in New York City where he honed his playing style to include jazz, soul, latin, funk, rock, and pop. He has played drums on numerous albums, and has performed with many different Oregon and New York musicians, and University of Oregon faculty members.

Timbales: Carmelo Torres Carmelo Torres is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in drums and Latin percussion. He has been a musician and educator for 25 years in Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon. Carmelo began playing different instruments and dancing at age 6. Growing up in a diverse musical family rewarded him the opportunity to become a multi-instrumentalist. Carmelo eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, and began developing varied skills in music and dance. In the late 1990’s, Carmelo relocated to Austin and began honing his skills as a drummer, percussionist, and songwriter. 

Trumpet/Leader Bryant Allard born in San Diego, California, started playing professionally at the age of 16. Bryant moved to the east coast in 1978 to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating in 1984, he moved to the San Francisco bay area where he played with such notable musicians as Mark Levine, and cuban pianist Carlos Federico. Bryant moved to Portland in 1994 where he currently resides. Bryant has worked with many great musicians including Robert Goulet, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, drummer Ron Steen, saxophonist Bob Hernandez, Conjunto Alegre, Pa’lante, Tall Jazz, Pianist George Mitchell, Pianist Greg Goebel, bassist Phil Baker and singer Rebecca Hardiman. Bryant has recorded several of his own CD’s that received great reviews including a review by the great jazz trumpeter Brian Lynch (the last trumpeter to play in Art Blakey’s Band) and has recorded with Conjunto Alegre and Rebecca Hardiman. You can catch Bryant around town performing with his own groups and with Nick Gefroh’s Salsa Band Pa’Lante in many of the local clubs, restaurants, and summer festivals.

Trombonist: Brad McMillan 3rd generation Oregonian. Has played trombone for over 50 years and started professionally at the age of 20. He studied at Clackamas Community College and Portland State University while playing with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and Chris Conrad Big Band. After graduation he have played with multiple big bands over the years, and is currently playing with the  Vanport Jazz band. He’s also a member of the Rose City Trombone Choir and has played solos on TEDx Portland main stage and at the International Trombone festival. Groups have included the True North Jazz sextet, Bureau of Standards Big band, Loafers rock band and now Picante Latin Jazz.