¡Suénalo! (sweh-nah-low) verb
1. To sound, slap, or play upon a
musical instrument, object, or person.

Miami’s Suenalo has been crowned the Miami New Times’ Best of Miami Awards: Best Latin Rock Band in 2005, Best Latin Band in 2011, and nominated for Best Band in 2013. If Suenalo’s one of a kind fusion is hard to pinpoint, it’s only because no one’s ever done anything quite like it before.

Afro sounds from Cuba and Puerto Rico meet reggae and rock on top a funky groove. Jazz and electro hook up for a sidewalk make-out session. Hip-hop hums from the pavement, and R&B drifts in the warm nights of Miami. Suenalo reaches to far-flung corners and retrieves all these elements, mashing them together and marrying them into a truly multicultural family.

With three albums under their belt, Suenalo has managed to display a mastery of both the studio and the stage. They have shared stages in the past year with the likes of Pitbull, Ozomatli, Chaka Khan, Soullive, Spirogyra, and Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def), just to name a few.

From their 2003 debut “Collages” to 2006’s self-titled studio effort and 2009’s “Live at Transit,” the band has been hard at work building momentum for their selection as an official 2012 SXSW Artist. Crowds should expect the same high energy that they continuously bring to local and national festivals such as Calle Ocho, Carnival on the Mile, Virginia Key Grassroots, Langerado, Tropical Heatwave, and Shakori Hills–and beyond to cities like New York, New Orleans, Asheville, Tampa, Orlando and Chicago.

About the members:
The 11-year compromise between some of Miami’s most talented musicians thrives on one ideal: that music should move the audience. Nine full-time members driving the eclectic sound are musical director Carlos Guzman on bass, vocalist/MC Amin De Jesus, vocalist Michelle Forman, sax and flute player Juan Turros (formerly a member of David Lee Roth’s and Maynard Ferguson’s bands), Chad Bernstein on trombone and conch shells (also of Spam Allstars, and has played with Pee Wee Ellis’ African Tribute to James Brown project, and Natalie Cole’s band), percussionist Edwin Bonilla (Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder), drummer Abner Torres (formerly a member of Julio Iglesias’ band), Adrian Gonzalez on piano and vocals, and guitarist Eric Escanes.

• Musician, Composer, Band Leader—just a few words to describe “That Gray Guy”, Amir Gray. Music has always been an important part of Amir’s life, starting with his Mother’s gift of a radio at 2 years old. Yes, 2 years old. He would listen to all types of music; R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Country and Rap. Amir could sing almost every song he heard and spent time performing at talent shows and in choirs.At 9 years old, Amir’s Mother enrolled him in piano lessons. However, the piano did not hold his interest and Amir refused to practice. A few years later, Amir wanted to join the school band, but due to the piano practice debacle, his parents were skeptical. However, his persistent requests to join the band paid off. During the band introduction meeting, where children were allowed to try out instruments to determine what they wanted to play, Amir’s Mother overheard other parents referencing the Tuba as the “college scholarship” instrument. His mother suggested Amir try the Tuba and the rest is history as they say.

  Amir is a natural Tuba player and progressed very quickly into musical prodigy status. After only playing the Tuba for a few months on a rental Tuba from school, he won first place at the Illinois Music Education Association (IMEA) Solo & Ensemble Competition (7th and 8th Grades).

  Because of his natural ability and desire to learn more, Amir wanted to audition to attend the Chicago Academy of the Arts. He was the first Tuba player to be offered and accepted into this school, however the school did not provide instruments to students. Amir and his Mother then embarked on a fund raising campaign to purchase a Tuba, by street performing in Chicago. They did raise enough money to purchase a Tuba by the start of school.

  The Chicago Academy of Arts was not the best fit to cultivate Amir’s talents so he transferred to the Emerson School of Visual and Performing Arts in Gary, Indiana. For the next 3 years, Amir was playing music 7 days a week, which included his first Funk band “SCADD”, Emerson Concert and Jazz Bands, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Youth Concert Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra, Gary Civic Orchestra, and Merit School of Music Program. During this time, Amir placed first all three years in both solo and ensemble at Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), scoring a perfect score in his senior year solo.

  Amir received a partial scholarship to attend the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University-Bloomington. His collegiate years were spent playing in the concert band and orchestra, IU Marching Hundred, Walrab Jazz Ensemble, David Baker Jazz Band, and first Tuba player for Latin American Popular Music Ensemble and IU Soul Review. It was at IU that Amir decided he wanted to be a full-time musician.

  After finishing his studies at IU, Amir joined “Judah Band”, a gospel rock band and performed as the horn section for that band. Judah Band recorded a CD and live DVD that is scheduled for release in Spring 2015. Amir then formed his second band “ILL Intentions” and served as Band Leader, Composer, Lyricist and Tuba Player. He also started to gain momentum in the Indiana music scene and played for Jiradon Ensemble (Afro-Cuban), Jefferson Street Parade Band, Bam Bam’s Brass Band, and the Magmatx. Amir relocated back to the Chicago area from Bloomington, Indiana and also gained significant attention in this music scene by playing with groups like Da$htone, Oby, Tovi Khali ft. Sam Fullerton & Nem, Soul Speak. He also has had the opportunity to play with musical greats Fred Wesley and The New JB’s, Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, Carl Weathersby, Lindsey Alexander, and Eddie Shaw.

  In June 2014, Amir started his third band “Gray Era Brass”, which started off as an all brass band that street performed in Chicago 6 days a week. One of those performances was captured on video and place on YouTube and caught the eyes of a television show producer. From that, Gray Era Brass will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Fox Television show, “Empire”.

  Amir is currently working on an EP, set to release in March 2015. When asked what’s next in his musical career, Amir simply responds, “I want to be known as one of the musical greats” and he is indeed on his way there.