Louie Cruz Beltran blends Afro Cuban rhythms with jazz, Latin jazz, pop and R&B influences. Louie is an entertainer at heart – a bandleader who is also a superbly skilled conguero, timbalero and vocalist.
Louie has shared the stage with legends Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. Louie performed with legendary singer Vikki Carr to a standing ovation and sold out house at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. At the 34th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl Louie made a huge impact. To quote Richard Ginell of Variety “the Louie Cruz Beltran Jazz Ensemble was the unexpected triumph of the day.” Louie wowed the large crowd at the Sunset Jazz Festival (formerly the Concord Jazz Festival, ) sharing the bill with jazz stars Boney James, Patrice Rushen, and Eric Marienthal. Louie captivated young and old alike with is interactive theatrical/musical show during the final week of the Los Angeles Philharmonic/Hollywood Bowl Summer Sounds Series.
