Juan José y su Orquesta

Juan José Meza, aged 33, is from a highly musical Medellín family dedicated to vallenato. In addition to singing, he is a percussionist who plays congas, timbales, and bongos. Juan José’s father and teacher, Lizandro Meza, is a well-known musician who lives in Colombia; his song “El hijo de Tuta” is currently in vogue. In turn, Juan José is teaching music to his own children and to his nieces and nephews.

Juan José Meza’s first foreign experience was in Australia, where he spent ten years studying accounting and music. He came to South Florida three years ago in search of new opportunities. In Miami he founded his own 12-piece band, Juan José y su Banda Café, recently renamed Juan José y su Orquesta. The group performs in clubs and festivals, as well as for private parties, and has released a CD titled Siguiendo Los Pasos.

Juan José Meza observes that it is through music that Colombians maintain ties to their country. The act of listening and dancing to music, while drinking aguardiente (a strong drink made from sugar cane) reminds them of the viejos tiempos (old times). Much of his Colombian audience, in fact, prefers older music. But in South Florida the band must also cater to a wide range of Latinos. Thus, they play a variety Afro-Latin American popular dance styles: Colombian cumbia and vallenato, Cuban son, Dominican merengue, Puerto Rican bomba and plena, and pan-Latin salsa.

Trombonists Humberto “Bud” Lavoy and José Manuel Ruiz in rehearsal.
Photograph by Nathalia Franco.

Juan José Meza on congas and Hamilton Murillo on timbales.
Photograph by Nathalia Franco.