Today's Find of the Week is a pair of musicians and brothers that have made a tremendous impact on the Latin Jazz scene both in their home base – the Los Angeles area – and the world – Ramon and Tony, The Banda Brothers.

Tony and Ramon Banda began playing music before the age of 10, due to the influence of their musical family. Ramon began playing guitar and quickly fell under the spell of B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix. Tony picked up the bass, starting his journey with the electric. They spent their early years as part of a family band called The Latin Boys, playing a wide range of music from Mexican standards to Straight-Ahead jazz. In 1967, Ramon switched to the drum kit to cover for a cousin drafted to the military.

During this time, they also began playing with a young percussionist named Poncho Sanchez. The three musicians played together for several years, making a name for themselves in Los Angeles. Soon, Poncho earned a regular gig as part of Latin legend Cal Tjader's band, and the Banda Brothers often filled in with Tjader's band. Shortly before Tjader's untimely death in 1982, he recommended Sanchez as a bandleader to Concord Records, and who signed the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, including the Banda Brothers, to a recording contract.

For the next 22 years, the Banda Brothers traveled the world with the Poncho Sanchez band. The pure amount of time that they had played together created a high level musical communication and they became known as part of one of the tightest rhythm sections in Latin Jazz. The Brother recorded over 15 albums with Poncho, including the Grammy winning 1999 recording Latin Soul.

Currently Ramon and Tony spend a great deal of time performing around the Los Angeles area with their group The Banda Brothers Sextet. They use rotating personnel, including many members of the Poncho Sanchez band. In addition, Tony still plays bass on the Poncho Sanchez recordings and tours. The Brothers released an album in 2004 entitled Acting Up!

Make sure that you stop by my profile and check out my friends list – you'll find The Banda Brothers in the top spot. Go to their profile, hear their music, and add them please! If you haven't had a chance, go check out last week's find as well, bassist Armando Gola.

If you just can't get enough Latin music, stop by my Latin, Jazz, and the Bass blog - last week's posts included listening suggestions, a review of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra's United We Swing, some video featuring Juan Formell with Los Van Van, and more!