Aylmer Band plays Ottawa Latin festivities

Evil Ways is a homage-band to the legendary group Santana  led by 10-time Grammy award-winning guitarist and musician  Carlos Santana.  A prominent figure in music since the 60’s, Santana’s sound blends Latin and African rhythms, unique melodies and soulful bluesy guitar lines.

Created on a whim by diverse musicians sharing a wealth of experience,  Evil Ways booked its first gig before even having once rehearsed together.  Its twelve members – all with local reputations – generate big rhythm  with their wide ensemble of instruments. Will Verreault-Milner is the lead vocalist, while Daniel Lacasse and Matt Aston handle percussion,  Steve Vesley plays Keyboards, while Patrick Arsenault and Louis Charron set the pace;  brass features Jason McCombs and Michael Purse on the sax and Katy Champagne on slide trombone, and rounding out the Latin-flavoured troop are Jesus Turrubiates on lead guitar, Omar Duran Guerra on rhythm guitar and Aldo Jauregui on bass guitar.

As for the band’s plans, lead percussionist Daniel Lacasse remarked to the Bulletin, “Is the band going to be something serious? Who knows?  For now,  it’s a lot of fun and the music is cool, really cool.”

Evil Ways will play the Mother’s and Children’s Day event organized by the Canadian Mexican Cultural Association of Ottawa-Gatineau,  Saturday, May 11. The event takes off at 3 pm  in the Horticulture Building at Landsdowne Park at 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa.