Israel Maldonado Music

I started playing in a kids band when I was 7 in Tijuana (Banda Infantil del D.I.F). We would play for schools, orphanages and had a weekly gig at the old Presidente Hotel. I picked up the classical guitar when I was 10. We moved to the U.S in 1989 and joined the drum line in high school.(Carlsbad). In College I played the guitar ensembles @ (Palomar College and San Diego State). I started playing at Cafe Sevilla in with 2 Brazilian bands (Josias Dos Santos Sambrasil and Mark Lamson's Sol e Mar). From there I started playing gypsy guitar with David de Alba, Oscar Aragon and Novamenco. Then I joined the group Agua Dulce and got into salsa and timba. I Toured for two and a half years the Midwest with Agua Dulce. Now I have my own group where I can Blend all of experiences in one show (Brazilian, Salsa, Gypsy, Funk, Reggae, Classical, Rock, etc). and I'm starting to mess with electronic music also.

Throughout the years, I've opened for acts like, Nikka Costa, Los Amigos Invisibles, Ivan Lins, Sergio Mendes, Charlie Hunter and Fared Haque.