Bryan - electric & acoustic guitar, cuatro, vocals & percussion New York born Puerto Rican Bryan Vargas grew up with the sounds of 80's pop, rock and R&B. A love for Prince and Michael Jackson's Thriller led him into music. After realizing that the piano would never get him chicks, he picked up the guitar. Bryan spent years of studying the great African-American musical tradition of Jazz, and he then dived headfirst into musica latina. He hasn't looked back since. Ya Esta is his flagship project, but he plays with other groups as well all around the New York area. Bryan's performed as a sideman with everyone under the sun including: pianist Artruo O'Farrill, Felix Sanabria & Los Afortunados, jazz saxophonist Melvin Butler, drummer Robb DiPietro, songwriters Christopher North & Katie Elevitch, singer/poet Mayra Vega, Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra, Amayo's Fu Arkestra, Heavy Merge, Trio Noir, acid-jazzer Topaz, alt rockers Baby Gopal, plus too many more to mention here. Bryan was the original guitarist and a founding member of the Anitbalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Also active in with the New York off-broadway theatre scene Bryan is the in-house guitarist for SEA (the Society of the Educational Arts), one of NY's top Spanish language companies. He's the musical director of A Tres Voces, which won the HOLA award for best musical in 2003. If you want to read more about Bryan, check out the bio page.
Ernesto Abreu - congas, percussion & vocals El Cubano-Dominicano original, Ernesto was born in New York's Spanish Harlem, El Barrio. He's been playing drums since birth, it's as natural to him as breathing. Ernesto can also be seen around town with the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and tons of other groups. He has toured and recorded extensively with Coolyu's Hot Boz & Topaz. The brother is in demand - Watch out! He does hip-hop, funk, salsa, merengue, acid jazz, rumba, Afro-Cuban folkloric music and is even an avid student of Karate. He plays every kind of drum you could think of, and plays them well. Conga, Bongo, Djembe, Bata, Timbal, Tambora Dominicana, Jingle Bells, Shakers all that and more. He's not a shabby guitarist either. Erensto is also a talented songwriter and composer. No Joke. On any given day you can find him in his Upper Manhattan studio working on tracks. Did I mention he's a badass sound engineer? Ernesto has his own group, Los Alumnos, which features a wide range of his work. (Back to Top)
Matt Baranello - trap drums & percussion Matt Baranello is a sick drummer. Thank god he's got health insurance. Seriously though, he's a phenomenal drummer in all modes, styles, genres - en punto. The man knows his stuff. Matt has played with superstars like Norah Jones, Marc Anthony & George Benson. He's played with jazz greats like Ronny Jordan, Frank Lacy, Tim Berne, Dave Samuels and many more. He's currently a member of a zillion different bands including Ensemble Uniqua, the Eric Johnson Trio, Kema Jamal, Sauce on the Side and many many more. Matt is always busy. He's never at home. Busy busy busy man. So we're REAL happy that he makes time to make some music with us. Originally from Suffolk County Long Island, Matt is currently a proud resident of the Boogie-Down Bronx. He is Italian-American but a bad MF at playing Afro-Cuban music. In fact, Matt is quite religious in his dedictaion to this music. Which is one of the many reasons we love the guy. Aww, shucks... Matt is the member of Ya Esta most likely to be smiling when you see him. (Back to Top)
Matt Hilgenberg - trumpet & flugelhorn, vocals & percussion 29 year old trompetista Matt Hilgenberg has performed in groups with Randy Weston, George Garzone, Jim McNeely, Frank Foster, Rufus Reid, Cachao, Patato, Lewis Nash, Claudio Roditi, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Deridian, Village Vanguard Orchestra, The David Brass band, Billy Harper, Set Em Up Joe, John Abercrombie, members of the Jazz Composers Collective, and more. And he still finds time to play with Ya Esta. As a member of Chico O'Farrill's Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra since 1997, he has performed in jazz festivals, CD's, documentaries, and films. In fact, he's all over the movie Calle 54 (go check it out!). With the orchestra, he has toured Spain, Mexico and the United States. The orchestra has appeared at Birdland in New York every Sunday since November 1997. Matt and Bryan were good friends in College and were even roomates for a year. Originally from Belmont, Massachussetes (Boston area), Matt's debut CD, Rasa is currently available everywhere on Double Time Jazz Records. It features jazz greats such as bassist Mike Richmond, pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Check out his website hilgenboogie.com. (Back to Top)
Toshi Someya - electric bass Toshiyaki Someya likes his yaki soba. He also likes building model trains. Wanna make Toshi happy? Give him some model train stuff. Then he'll be your friend forever... Toshi is originally from Tokyo, Japan. He came to the USofA in the mid-90s, first living in LA, and eventually relocating to NYC. His bushido bass playing methods can be witnessed on his web site "Give Me A Gig." Please feel free to give him a gig, he really wants one. I guess Ya Esta isn't enough - sigh.... But his resume is pretty impressive. Toshi has played with some of NYC's best musicians including Juan Pablo Torres, Afro Mantra, Orlando Marin, Joel Newton Situation, Adam Klipple and many many more. Toshi is adept at jazz, funk, latin music & much more. Toshi is married to the lovely Cuban vocalist Debbie Avilez and can often be seen with her band as well. He has a new CD called "Toshi Someya". The songs titles are more creatively titled and include Thin Wallet, Shrinkage, Dork Pride & Free Dinner. So c'mon you've got to check it out now. Toshi is the most japanese member of the band. (Back to Top)
Jorge "Georgie" Vázquez - bongo, percussion & vocals Jorge "Georgie" Vázquez was born in "The Bronx, Puerto Rico," where he has lived all his life. Captured at an early age by music, he has played everything from heavy metal to reggae, bomba, plena, rumba, jibaro music and salsa. For him, "music has been a vehicle to get in touch with himself and his Puerto Rican roots." (his words not mine) Georgie also plays the timbales, barriles, congas, shekere and a wide variety of Afro-Caribbean drums - but Bryan make him stick to the bongo. (tee-hee...) Georgie is a well-known percussionist within the New York City Puerto Rican music circles. He has been a member of Los Amigos de la Plena, and was a founding member of the urban jibaro group YerbaBuena. He has performed with a variety of musical groups in the city, including, Viento de Agua Unplugged, the Welfare Poets, Taino, Los Instantaneos de la Plena (of El Rincon Criollo), and Los Bomberos de Brooklyn. Among his most influential mentors are masters Alberto "Tito" Cepeda, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Jose A. Rivera, and he has performed alongside such legends as Tito Puente, and Yomo Toro. Bryan met Georgie while playing with YerbaBuena way back in 2001. After 2 years of sweet talking him, Bryan finally got him to join the band. All it took was some Carne Guisada from Tomasa's place on 110th St. Who knew? (Back to Top)
Bio * Band Members
New York born Puerto Rican Bryan Vargas grew up with the sounds of 80's pop, rock and R&B. A love for Prince and Michael Jackson's Thriller led him into music. After realizing that the piano would never get him chicks, he picked up the guitar. Bryan spent years of studying the great African-American musical tradition of Jazz, and he then dived headfirst into musica latina. He hasn't looked back since. Ya Esta is his flagship project, but he plays with other groups as well all around the New York area.
El Cubano-Dominicano original, Ernesto was born in New York's Spanish Harlem, El Barrio. He's been playing drums since birth, it's as natural to him as breathing. Ernesto can also be seen around town with the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and tons of other groups. He has toured and recorded extensively with Coolyu's Hot Boz & Topaz. The brother is in demand - Watch out! He does hip-hop, funk, salsa, merengue, acid jazz, rumba, Afro-Cuban folkloric music and is even an avid student of Karate. He plays every kind of drum you could think of, and plays them well. Conga, Bongo, Djembe, Bata, Timbal, Tambora Dominicana, Jingle Bells, Shakers all that and more. He's not a shabby guitarist either. Erensto is also a talented songwriter and composer. No Joke. On any given day you can find him in his Upper Manhattan studio working on tracks. Did I mention he's a badass sound engineer? Ernesto has his own group, Los Alumnos, which features a wide range of his work. 
Matt Baranello is a sick drummer. Thank god he's got health insurance. Seriously though, he's a phenomenal drummer in all modes, styles, genres - en punto. The man knows his stuff. Matt has played with superstars like Norah Jones, Marc Anthony & George Benson. He's played with jazz greats like Ronny Jordan, Frank Lacy, Tim Berne, Dave Samuels and many more. He's currently a member of a zillion different bands including Ensemble Uniqua, the Eric Johnson Trio, Kema Jamal, Sauce on the Side and many many more. Matt is always busy. He's never at home. Busy busy busy man. So we're REAL happy that he makes time to make some music with us.
29 year old trompetista Matt Hilgenberg has performed in groups with Randy Weston, George Garzone, Jim McNeely, Frank Foster, Rufus Reid, Cachao, Patato, Lewis Nash, Claudio Roditi, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Deridian, Village Vanguard Orchestra, The David Brass band, Billy Harper, Set Em Up Joe, John Abercrombie, members of the Jazz Composers Collective, and more. And he still finds time to play with Ya Esta. As a member of Chico O'Farrill's Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra since 1997, he has performed in jazz festivals, CD's, documentaries, and films. In fact, he's all over the movie Calle 54 (go check it out!). With the orchestra, he has toured Spain, Mexico and the United States. The orchestra has appeared at Birdland in New York every Sunday since November 1997. Matt and Bryan were good friends in College and were even roomates for a year.
Originally from Belmont, Massachussetes (Boston area), Matt's debut CD, Rasa is currently available everywhere on Double Time Jazz Records. It features jazz greats such as bassist Mike Richmond, pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Check out his website 
Toshiyaki Someya likes his yaki soba. He also likes building model trains. Wanna make Toshi happy? Give him some model train stuff. Then he'll be your friend forever...
Jorge "Georgie" Vázquez was born in "The Bronx, Puerto Rico," where he has lived all his life. Captured at an early age by music, he has played everything from heavy metal to reggae, bomba, plena, rumba, jibaro music and salsa. For him, "music has been a vehicle to get in touch with himself and his Puerto Rican roots." (his words not mine) Georgie also plays the timbales, barriles, congas, shekere and a wide variety of Afro-Caribbean drums - but Bryan make him stick to the bongo. (tee-hee...)