Jesus Almenas
Jesus Vicente Almenas (born May 1, 1980) is a Panamanian-American guitarist and composer.
Jesus Vicente Almenas was born at Gorgas Hospital in Ancón, Panama on May 1, 1980. Second son of
the marriage between Vicente Almenas and Catalina Concepción. Jesus started his musical training at 4 years old with his father,
Vicente Almenas, a Puerto Rican U.S. Army
retired living in Panama. In 1989 he was studying under Rómulo
Gómez, a guitar instructor teaching at the Instituto
Episcopal San Cristóbal. In 1995-1996, he studied at the
National Conservatory in Panama, but left due to lack of popular music tutoring. He then studied
in 1997 with Tille Valderrama, a professor graduated from Berklee College of Music. Since 1994 until 1997 he attended to the sessions at the Panama Jamboree Juventud, a youth festival that included arts, media and
entertainment. These sessions were moderated by Mauricio Smith, with guest artists such as Danilo Pérez,
Chucho Valdés, Antonio Sanchez, among
others. During 1999-2001 he served in the U.S. Army. He has performed many different events, including opening for Poncho Sanchez with Grupo Nega, under the direction of Fidel Morales; Premiata Fornería Marconi, Focus, Nexus with Equinox, a progressive rock band from Panama; the Panama Big Band for the First Panama Jazz Festival; Sharo from Panama, playing at
Wilmington, North Carolina [1]; and many rock, jazz, fusion, pop, and latin
music acts locally and internationally, along with different jingles and radio spots. He played for Dyango on April 19, 2007, and Julio Sabala on August
16, 2007 at the Atlapa Convention Center.
Currently he is part of Ruleta, a rock band from Panama, and Corona Jazz Quartet, from Panama as well. Also a guest guitarist for the Panamanian hardcore band Rencilla, recording tracks for their latest CD, as well as making comments on his experience with the band on the accompanying DVD
Recently on July 21, 2007 Ruleta ended 5th at a Panamanian contest for new bands held by PanamaROCK.
Almenas will have an endorsement soon with Deka Group Panama through their house brand of instruments.
He is also known as "JazzLOCO", nickname branded since the late 1990's.
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