Wilde Latin Jazz

Meet the Band

Wilde Latin Jazz is comprised of top SLO county musicians that deliver Latin dance music – Salsa, Mambo, Cha-cha, Samba, and others – and high energy Jazz. Founded by Kevin Wilde, trumpet and flugelhornist, who spent many years in the LA Salsa scene and brought his unique talent to the Central Coast in 2020, the group performs music from Latin and American standards and popular artists (Stevie Wonder, Peter Frampton, others) in a unique Latin flavor.  Members of Wilde Latin Jazz (Darrell Voss – drums, Justin Perkins – Percussion, Dr. Jamaal Baptiste, Keyboards, and Dylan Johnson, Bass) have performed with Latin artists such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Tito Puente Jr., Chino Nunez, as well as Jazz & Pop greats such as Bill Watrous, Randy Brecker, Nancy Wilson, Gino Vannelli, Four Tops, Temptations, as well as local groups/artists such as Charlie Shoemake, Gaile Gillaspie, Scott Martin, Zongo Allstars, Brash Mash, Lompoc Pops, and many more.  Jamaal, Darrell and Dylan are also key Educators at Cuesta College and Cal Poly. 

Kevin Wilde

Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Leader

Kevin is a CSU Northridge Music School grad, performed at Monterey Jazz Festival, and has performed with many renowned artists including:  Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Bill Watrous Wildlife Refuge West, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Four Tops, Temptations, Gino Vannelli, Barry Manilow, Manhattan Transfer and many others.  

After spending 20 years in New England, then 12 years in Florida, Kevin has come back home to California and moved to the Central Coast to spend more time with his family and grandkids.

Dylan Johnson

Bass

Dylan has been a staple of the California Central Coast music scene for over twenty years.  Equally skilled on electric and double bass, Dylan has lent his diverse talents to everything from bluegrass to Afro Caribbean music.  In addition to having performed extensively on the West and East Coasts of the US, he holds a master’s degree from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music and completed his undergraduate work at Berklee College of Music.  
Dylan records and performs regularly with a myriad of local artists including Inga Swearingen, Charlie Shoemake and often accompanies touring jazz artists.  Recent recordings include projects with Arthur White's Merge featuring Randy Brecker, songwriter Ynana Rose, and others.  He is currently a professor of music at Cuesta College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Jamaal Baptiste

Keyboards

Jamaal Baptiste is a pianist, composer, arranger, and ethnomusicologist. He holds a BM and MM in jazz studies from the Indiana University (IU) Jacobs School of Music as well as an MA and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from IU. Baptiste is also the Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California.

Baptiste has collaborated with esteemed practitioners of Caribbean and Latin American popular music in the United States and contributed to several albums by Grammy-nominated artists Michael Spiro and Wayne Wallace. Notably, he recorded on their album Canto América (2017), which was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album. Other notable artists with whom Baptiste has performed include Gary Bartz, Avery G. Sharpe, Ronnie Burrage, Greg Osby, Carol Sudhalter, Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Wayne Wallace, Dave Stryker, Steve Houghton, Ed Saindon, Jamey Aebersold, and Rob Dixon.

Baptiste is an original member of the Batuquê Trio with drummer Andy Smith and bassist Natalie Boeyink. With this trio, he recorded the album Transparency (2015). He is also a co-founder of the NelBap Duo with saxophonist/clarinetist Ana Nelson and a member of Carlos Bislip’s Aruban Jazz Collective.

Darrell Voss

Drums

Percussionist and Educator Darrell Voss has been active as a professional for over
30 years. Darrell is known as the “world’s happiest drummer”! He has been
teaching at Cuesta College since 2000, and is a key member of the jazz faculty and
applied music program. He has been co-director of the Summer Jazz Workshop for
10 years at Cuesta College. He has performed or recorded with hundreds of musicians. Most recent performers include George Kahn, Julie Kelly, SLO Vibes Trio, The Starlight Dream Band, John Proulx, Pat Kelley, Josh Nelson, Andy & Scott Martin,
Charlie and Sandy Shoemake, Randy Brecker, Jeff Babko, Tim Armacost, & Robert
Alberts Quintet. Darrell continues a busy schedule of performing and educating on
the West Coast. He received his undergraduate degrees from Cuesta College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo in 1994.
He has been fortunate to study with jazz greats Jeff Hamilton, Charlie Shoemake and
Steve Houghton, & classical teacher, Ross Sears. Darrell has rounded off his music
education by participating at Stanford Jazz Workshop, USC Masterclasses, PAS, and
Jazz Educator Network events.

Justin Perkins

Congas

Justin has been in the SLO county music scene for many years and has performed with many local bands including Zongo All Stars, Super Nova, and many more.  Not only is Justin the top conga player in the area, but is a killer steel drummer as well.