Montuno West

Montuno West – Bio
Nominated for a 2025 WCMA – Jazz
Artist of the Year
Montuno West is a cross-regional
Canadian ensemble that fuses AfroCuban folklore, Latin jazz, and global
music traditions into an exciting and
infectious sound. With members based in
Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, the
group exemplifies Canadian artistic
practice’s collaborative, multicultural
spirit. Their music blends deep respect
for traditional forms such as Batá drumming, Santería songs, and Cuban folkloric rhythms with
contemporary jazz harmonies and improvisation. The result is a vibrant, rooted, and forwardlooking sound, combining technical mastery with emotional resonance.
The ensemble brings together internationally respected artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Israel “Toto” Berriel (Cuba) is a master of Afro-Cuban folklore and a former Grammy-winning
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas member. Chris Andrew (Canada) is one of Western Canada’s
most acclaimed jazz pianists, known for his fluency in Latin and modern jazz. Raul Tabera
(Cuba) and Luis Tovar (Venezuela) are leading Latin percussionists in Canada whose work
bridges folkloric traditions and contemporary performance. Rubim de Toledo (Brazil/Canada) is
an award-winning bassist and composer whose work explores the intersection of jazz, Latin, and
other global styles. This fusion of Canadian, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Brazilian perspectives
defines the group’s unique identity, enriching their music with a depth of cultural knowledge and
lived experience.
Members of Montuno West have received national and international recognition for their
individual and collective work, including Western Canadian Music Awards, CBC Rising Star
Awards, and JUNO nominations. These accolades underscore their excellence as performers,
composers, and cultural ambassadors in Canada’s diverse music scene.
Montuno West’s debut recording earned the 2019 Calgary Music Award for World Recording
of the Year and a World Artist of the Year nomination at the Western Canadian Music
Awards. Their innovative and authentic approach to Latin jazz has since garnered further
attention, establishing them as one of Canada’s most compelling global music projects.
In November 2024, Montuno West released its second album, Raíces, a project in which all five
members explore ancestry, identity, and cultural memory through original compositions. The
album showcases the ensemble’s artistic evolution and the deepening of their musical connection.
Raíces reflects the group’s continued exploration of Latin traditions through a contemporary jazz
lens while remaining deeply rooted in folkloric and traditional foundations. The album was also
well-received on Canadian airwaves, reaching #3 on the !earshot National Jazz Chart, #2 on
the !earshot International Chart, and #3 on CKUA’s Top 30 Chart, where it received
substantial airplay and support from program hosts and listeners.
Montuno West’s commitment to artistic excellence, cultural dialogue, and regional collaboration
has made them a vital force in Canada’s jazz and world music communities. Their work
celebrates diasporic traditions while advancing a modern, inclusive vision of Latin jazz that resonates across cultures and audiences.