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 Orlando Poleo, one of Venezuela’s most proficient and popular congueros and bandleaders, takes his inspiration from Afro-Caribbean rhythms. He began his musical training in Caracas with Julio Mendez, and soon began attracting attention from respected Venezuelan percussionists. He also studied Afro-Venezuelan percussion with Miguel Urbina, and Afro-Cuban percussion at the Professional Improvement School in Havana.
In 1991, Orlando traveled to Paris where he had the opportunity to work with some of the Latin Music’s best artists, and to tour France with such notable musicians as Tito Puente, Chocolate, target="_blank">Eddie Palmieri, and many others. In 1995, he recorded his first album, Cimarraneando, which he co-wrote with Orlando Maraca Valle, and in 1996 Orlando formed the sizzling, salsa band, Chaworo, with eight other talented musicians. Gifted Venezuelan singer, Carlos Esposito, joined the orchestra in 1996.
El Buen Camino, Orlando’s second album, was released in France in 1998 to critical acclaim, and Sony released Cimarroneando in Europe under the name Sangre Negra in 1999. Orlando and his orchestra performed in France for the Millennium Party in 2000, and have appeared at the Abidjan Jazz Festival on the Ivory Coast, as well as at the first jazz festival ever held in Tahiti. He released his third album Lo Bueno De La Vida, which means "the good things in life", in February 2002 to enthusiastic reviews. This summer, the orchestra will be touring the French provinces after taking part in the popular Latina Festival at Euro Disney held in the spring.
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