Jessica “La Timbalera” Rodriguez

Pearl artist Jessica Rodriguez was born in NYC to Puerto Rican parents.  Jessica grew up listening to Salsa music which was played regularly at home.  She was first inspired and motivated to play when she saw Pearl artist Marc Quinones perform at Madison Square Garden.  At age 15, she attended Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts to study timbales.  Her teachers included Jose Madera Jr., Johnny Almendra, and Mauricio Herrera.  Jessica was a member of the Harbor’s Latin Youth Ensemble under the direction of Ramon Rodriguez which was featured in Telemundo’s morning TV program Despierta America and in the January 9, 2006 issue of People Magazine.  On October 21, 2003, Jessica, along with six other students, was awarded a scholarship from the Celia Cruz Foundation.  Out of those seven students, Jessica and three of the award recipients were selected to perform with renowned Salsa singer Oscar D’Leon at the 2004 Billboard Latin Music Awards held in Miami FL.  In 2006, she was featured in the PBS documentary “Mi Mambo”, a profile of the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in East Harlem and its young musicians and pe rformers.

Jessica has been invited to sit in with the likes of Ralph Irizarry y Son Criollo, Jimmy Bosch, Johnny Almendra y Los Jovenes Del Barrio, Michael Stuart, Ray Sepulveda, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Nelson Gonzalez y Orq. alongside the Legendary Nicky Marrero, Chino Nunez and Friends, Frankie Vazquez y Los Soneros del Barrio, Marc Quinones and Bobby Allende’s Ocho y Mas, and Papo Vasquez y Los Piratas del Caribe featuring Pearl artist Richie Flores, Anthony Carrillo, and Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.  Jessica has toured with the international salsa group N’Klabe playing bongos and timbales.  She is currently a member of CoCoMaMa, an all female Latin jazz/salsa band, and Billy Carrion Orchestra, both of whom she has recorded with.

In May of 2008, she graduated from Queensborough Community College, majoring in Music/Performing Arts.  Jessica is continuing to study timbales with Cuban Master Percussionist Marvin Diz and bongos with Pearl Artist Anthony Carrillo.

Mr. Anthony Carrillo

We are proud to introduce Mr. Carrillo to our student body!

Anthony Carrillo was born in New York of Puerto Rican Heritage. Since his childhood, he showed a special interest in music. His father, Mr. Roman "Don Nan" Carrillo, was his first teacher. Through him, he was exposed to the music of "Ramito" (one of the greatest exponents of folkloric music in Puerto Rico) and Rafael Cortijo, so that his first influences were "Papi Andino" (Ramito's Bongo Player)and Roberto Roena (Cortijo's bongo player).

When he was about nine years old, Anthony's family returned to Puerto Rico. It was then that his father asked David Ortiz "La Mole," who was considered one of the best Rumberos in Puerto Rico, to teach his son the techniques and patterns of the Rumba, at the age of 13, Anthony was already part of the well Known National folkloric group Areyto, directed by Mrs. Irene Mcleane.