Biography
Yankar R. Gonzalez is a Conn-Selmer Artist
Yankar R. Gonzalez is a Cuban trombone player based in Houston TX. His work ethic, professionalism and versatility has placed him as one of the top trombone players in Houston in a short period of time. Grammy Winner with Alive in Asia Live CD/DVD (Israel Houghton & New Breed). Currently a member of Ricardo Montaner’s Band & The Houston Jazz Orchestra which showcases the top Jazz players in town.
Born in Cuba, he began trombone studies at age nine. Before completing his education in Havana, he had already started to perform and collaborate with various well known Orchestras in the country becoming an international touring musician at the short age of 15. Being able to perform alongside musicians such as Chucho Valdez, Guajiro Mirabal, Buena Vista Social Club and Afro-Cuban All Stars helped him gain incredible experience that has shaped him into the musician he is today. After completing his 2 year service in the Army at the age of 20, Yankar was hired to work with Issac Delgado, one of the top artist in Cuba. This gave Yankar the opportunity to perform in the most well known Jazz Festivals around the world like North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands, Nice Jazz Festival in France, Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada and Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2005, He moved to Toronto, Canada, where he performed and collaborated with International Musicians such as: Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett, Paquito de Rivera and Guido Basso.
Yankar now resides in Houston TX, where he continues to expand his career. He has been invited as a special guest clinician at Texas Southern University, Canzion Institute and University of Toronto in Canada. He has been involved in many recordings such as: Jennifer Lopez “ All I Have” Live in Vegas Residency (2017), 2016 Grammy Winner “Alive in Asia” Live CD/DVD and Two Times Grammy Winner “Jesus At The Center” Live CD/DVD (Seven Times Grammy Winner Israel Houghton & New Breed), Motion Picture " I'm in Love with a Church Girl ", Donnie McClurkin " Duets", “Live Out Loud” (Preashea Hilliard, Aaron Lindsey), and Latin Grammy Winner Marcos Witt to mention a few. He has performed with: Joe Sample & The Jazz Crusaders, Idina Menzel, Lakewood Church, The Oʼ Jays, Danilo Montero, Ricardo Montaner , La India, Luis Enrique, Jerry Rivera, Rey Ruiz, Alberto Barros All Stars, Yahuda Glantz, Aaron Lindsey, Ruben Studdard, Coalo Zamorano, Cindy Ratcliff, Micah Stampley, Steve Crawford and Da’dra Greathouse just to name a few.
He is currently a member of the Ricardo Montaner’s Band & Houston Jazz Orchestra, and keeps a busy schedule between recording sessions and touring as well as working on his own project “ Yankar Gonzalez + ONE ” featuring the most talented musicians in the Houston area.
Classes & Workshops
One / One
(Beginner)
Trombone Fundamentals
Classical Technique
Excerpts & Exercises
and more...
$80 / h
improvisation (jazz/latin)
(Intermediate / Advanced)
Solo and Song Analisys
Chord Progressions
Playing Along & Improv Exercises
and more...
$120 / h
Horn Section (group classes)
(Begginer / Intermediate / Advanced)
Recording Techniques
Learning the role of each player
Bigband , Pop, Latin , Funk Styles
Groups from 3 to 5 players
and much more...
$300 / 2h
