Noel Quintana & the Latin Crew is an 11-piece salsa and Latin jazz ensemble led by Nuyorican percussionist Noel Quintana. Known as "Mr. Conga," Quintana is a Puerto Rican bandleader, educator, and researcher who grew up in New York City, where he was exposed to Afro-Caribbean music through his uncle's record store. Now based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Quintana has spent over three decades as a performer and collector of Latin music history. He officially debuted Noel Quintana & the Latin Crew on October 16, 1999.
After years of live performances and cultural education programs, the group released their first musical production on CD in 2018, followed by an LP release in 2019. The band expanded their digital catalog with the 2020 singles "DONDE ESTAN LOS CANTANTES ?" and "NADIE ME VA A QUERRER COMO TU," followed by "AnnaLinda's Mambo" in 2021.
In recent years, the group has continued releasing traditional salsa music. In 2023, they partnered with singer Pedro Jesús for the single "Dejala Que Baile." The ensemble followed this with the single "Soy Sonera" and the album "NOEL QUINTANA & THE LATIN CREW, Vol. 1" in 2024.
