Winter Jazz Series: Steve Kroon Latin Jazz Sextet

Steve’s music is loaded with the instantly-likable melodically attractive and rhythmically intriguing performances that once made Latin jazz the kind of music a diverse audience could groove to.
Percussionist, composer and arranger Steven Kroon was born in Spanish Harlem to parents who had moved to New York City from their native Puerto Rico. At the age of nine, the family moved to Queens, where the youngster’s interest in music was further sparked by the presence of many noted jazz and R&B musicians. Right in his neighborhood were Lester Young, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Count Basie and many more. At this early stage he started playing percussion. Steve and his brother Bobby would practice along with the recordings of these great artists, then, as Steve steadily progressed, he undertook studying with various music teachers including the great Tommy Lopez, Sr. He took conga lessons with him for quite some time as well as the great percussionist Dom Um Romao.

Steve began working with such notables as Luther Van Dross (from 1981 to 2001). He has appeared on seven platinum albums, fifteen world tours, which include two live video performances. Also, an array of television shows from the Tonight Show to David Letterman, Jay Leno, as well as the Grammy’s. Steve has recorded with much of the “Who’s Who” in the recording business, names such as Ron Carter, Roberta Flack, Luther Van Dross, Bill Cosby, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, Stanley Turrentine, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, just to name a few.

Steve’s music is loaded with the instantly-likable melodically attractive and rhythmically intriguing performances that once made Latin jazz the kind of music a diverse audience could groove to.
Percussionist, composer and arranger Steven Kroon was born in Spanish Harlem to parents who had moved to New York City from their native Puerto Rico. At the age of nine, the family moved to Queens, where the youngster’s interest in music was further sparked by the presence of many noted jazz and R&B musicians. Right in his neighborhood were Lester Young, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Count Basie and many more. At this early stage he started playing percussion. Steve and his brother Bobby would practice along with the recordings of these great artists, then, as Steve steadily progressed, he undertook studying with various music teachers including the great Tommy Lopez, Sr. He took conga lessons with him for quite some time as well as the great percussionist Dom Um Romao.

Steve began working with such notables as Luther Van Dross (from 1981 to 2001). He has appeared on seven platinum albums, fifteen world tours, which include two live video performances. Also, an array of television shows from the Tonight Show to David Letterman, Jay Leno, as well as the Grammy’s. Steve has recorded with much of the “Who’s Who” in the recording business, names such as Ron Carter, Roberta Flack, Luther Van Dross, Bill Cosby, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, Stanley Turrentine, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, just to name a few.