2025 Festival Artists
Friday, October 3
Border Jazz Quintet
with Jessika Brust
Border Jazz Quintet, led by Roman Cipriani on saxophone, also includes Miguel Torres on keyboard, Curt Bushaw on bass and Ruben Galvan on drums. Jessika Brust will also be featured on vocals and violin. The Border Jazz Quintet has been featured at the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Festival nearly every year since the festival’s beginning.
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Curt Bushaw is a jazz bass player from North Dakota who also now resides in El Paso. He studied education at the Valley City State University in North Dakota and subsequently became a teacher at Ysleta ISD in El Paso. He presently is the Director of Bands Desert Winds at Socorro Independent School District.
Roman Cipriani (Chip) has been an influential figure in the education and jazz scene in southern New Mexico over the past 40 years. Roman performs regularly in several jazz ensembles in the area including The Border Jazz Ensemble, Note Works and his own Border Jazz Quintet. He has also performed with the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Symphony Orchestra and as a guest artist with the New Mexico State University Jazz Ensembles.
Roman has performed with groups such as The Four Tops, Temptations, Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knight, O’Jays and James Ingram, En Vogue Peabo Bryson. Jazz artists Chris Vadala, Clark Terry, Tony Campice Vincent Gardner, Derrick Gardner, Tia Fuller, Pete Christlieb, Brad Leali, Dave Pietro, John McNeil, Javon Jackson, Terell Stafford, Sean Jones, Bill Watrous and Ed Shaughnessy among others. Roman has served as a clinician, soloist and adjudicator in New Mexico, West Texas, Kentucky, Missouri and Central America. He retired after 26 years of service to the public schools but continues to serve as a music educator and performer. In 2024, he was recognized as Emeritus Teacher of the year by the New Mexico Music Educators Association.
Drummer/Percussionist Ruben C. Galvan was born and raised in Las Cruces and has performed for over 45 years in a variety of musical genres such as Rock, Country, Funk, Traditional Jazz and Big Band Jazz formats, as well as Latin and Orchestral environments. Groups include variety group Caliente, the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, NMSU Percussion and Jazz Ensembles, Border Jazz Orchestra as well as being part of opening acts for groups such as “The Coasters,” “A Salute to The Platters,” “The Crystals,” Charlie Thomas’ “The Drifters” and RUN-D-MC.
Miguel Torres, an El Paso native, moved to Las Cruces in 1999 to pursue a degree in Computer Science. During his time at NMSU he played in the Jazz Bands, Marching Band and the Roadrunner Revue Pep Band. He grew up playing in his family band, La Ritmera Garcia, composed of his grandparents, aunts and uncles. Since then, he has played with various groups in the area: Footprints, Border Jazz Quintet, Border Jazz Orchestra, Soledad Canyon Quintet, Derrick Lee Trio, Lush Life Quintet and many more Jazz combos and ensembles. He is keeping the family tradition alive by playing in the group, UnLyshed. Miguel has also played with Play Me-The Music of Neil Diamond and Remember Then-A Class Act.
Jessika Brust, vocalist/violinist, is a native of Philadelphia, who had her first encounter with jazz while in college in North Carolina. She toured around the United States, then brought her music around the world via cruise ships, and now lands in the Southwest, serving in the Army as part of the 1st Armored Division Band, stationed at Fort Bliss.
Kat Crosby and the
Rhythm Gators
Sophisticated blues, a hint of jazz and hot guitar define Kat Crosby and the Rhythm Gators. Once described by Bob Burns of The Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society as, “One of the blues treasures of New Mexico and Texas,” Kat Crosby focuses on delivering a show filled with the emotional vocals of Kat, supported by the powerful and expressive guitar work of her husband, John Peterson.
Kat Crosby's playlist is a combination of original music and carefully chosen cover songs intent on drawing the audience into the music and story. The music is a mix of fresh, modern blues, a dash of jazz and always with the attitude of “laissez les bon temps roulez!” LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! Kat has played festivals and other venues in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona for 20 years.
Dave Ferris bought his first drum set in the Spring of 1982 and has been playing for 43 years. He shares a birthday with Ringo Starr and considers him to be a huge inspiration and influence along with drummers like Carmine Appice, Ian Paice and John Bonham. In the late 90’s, he played in a trio that had the honor of jamming with members of the South Dakota Lakota Sioux family blues band-Indegenous. He also has travelled and played at two of the bars on Broadway street in Nashville including the legendary Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
Lee McCartney, bassist, started playing in 1972 at age 15, after seeing a friend play bass to the newly released Tolousie Street Album. That same summer, he attended his first live concert, Elvis Presley, and discovered the Beatles. He has been playing ever since.
Azucar
Azucar is an ensemble made up of El Paso musicians whose repertoire ranges from salsa to jazz, pop ballads and international music. Azucar has shared the stage with widely known artists such as Tito Puente, Juan Gabriel and George Benson and accompanied Vicky Carr. The band has been showcased in cities like Las Vegas, San Diego, Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Fernando Lechuga, a highly accomplished pianist and founder of his namesake ensemble, Azucar, hails from Juárez, Chihuahua, inheriting a musical legacy from his father. With a master's degree from UTEP and a professorship at EPCC, Fernando's expertise extends beyond performance. Azucar, under his direction, has also opened for legends such as Selena Quintanilla, El Gran Combo and La Sonora Ponceña.
Juan Lechuga, a captivating performer and bassist, has spent 49 years alongside his brother, Fernando Lechuga, shaping the distinctive sound of Azucar. His masterful bass playing and magnetic stage presence have been instrumental in the group's acclaim, making him a revered figure in the music scene.
Angel Jimenez, a seasoned jazz drummer with 39 years of experience, has been a cornerstone of the renowned band Azucar for two decades. His rhythmic mastery has graced stages alongside artists such as Barbara Padilla, Vikky Varr and Juan Gabriel. Adri Muniz Lopez, a captivating performer from the borderlands, is a musical theatre graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. With over 85 professional productions across Philadelphia, NYC and Panama, Adri's passion for lyrical expression shines through. For over five years, she has graced stages with Azucar with soulful charisma and dynamic vocals.
Joe Barriga, trumpet player, is a graduate of NMSU and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He is an El Paso middle school band educator, trumpet performer and is a teacher at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ). He has been a member of Azucar for 30 years. Jose L. Del Rio Jr. is a trombone player and graduate of UTEP. He has served as an educator for 16 years and currently serves as Assistant Band Director in the Clint Independent School District. Jose has performed and recorded with numerous groups in the El Paso and Las Cruces greater area, including a performance with salsa singer Jerry Rivera. He has been a member of Azúcar for more than 20 years.
Jesus Reza, a local percussionist for 27 years, has played with Azucar for over 20 years. He has shared the stage with great bands including lead singer Osvaldo of Puerto Power, Tito Puente Jr. and Los Titanes de La Salsa. Hector Alvarez, saxophonist for Azucar, is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso School of Education. He has been a member of Azucar for 23 years.