Jesus Almenas

Jesus Vicente Almenas (born May 1, 1980) is a Panamanian-American guitarist. Jesus Vicente Almenas was born at Gorgas Hospital in Ancón, Panama on May 1, 1980. Second son of the marriage between Vicente Almenas and Catalina Concepción. Jesus started his musical training at 4 years old with his father, Vicente Almenas, a Puerto Rican U.S. Army retired living in Panama. In 1989 he was studying under Rómulo Gómez, a guitar instructor teaching at the Instituto Episcopal San Cristóbal. In 1995-1996, he studied at the National Conservatory in Panama, but left due to lack of popular music tutoring. He then studied in 1997 with Aristides "Tille" Valderrama, a professor graduated from Berklee College of Music. Since 1994 until 1997 he attended to the sessions at the Panama Jamboree Juventud, a youth festival that included arts, media and entertainment. These sessions were moderated by Mauricio Smith, with guest artists such as Danilo Pérez, Chucho Valdés, Antonio Sanchez, among others. During 1999-2001 he served in the United States Army. He has performed many different events, including opening for Poncho Sanchez with Grupo Nega, under the direction of Fidel Morales; Premiata Fornería Marconi, Focus, Nexus with Equinox, a progressive rock band from Panama; the Panama Big Band for the First Panama Jazz Festival; Sharo from Panama, playing at Wilmington, North Carolina; and many rock, jazz, fusion, pop, and Latin music acts locally and internationally, along with different jingles and radio spots. He played for Dyango on April 19, 2007, and [http://www.juliosabala.net Julio Sabala] on August 16, 2007 at the Atlapa Convention Center.

Currently he is part of [http://myspace.com/ruletapanama Ruleta] , a rock band from Panama, and Corona Jazz Quartet, from Panama as well. Also a guest guitarist for the Panamanian hardcore band [http://www.rencilla.com Rencilla] , recording tracks for their latest CD, as well as making comments on his experience with the band on the accompanying DVD

Recently on July 21, 2007 [http://myspace.com/ruletapanama Ruleta] ended 5th at a Panamanian contest for upcoming bands held by [http://www.panamarock.com/ PanamaROCK] . On December 1, 2007 Ruleta was nominated by PanamaROCK as best Pop Rock Band. Los 33 won the category.

Currently, Almenas is a guitar professor at the Academia de Música de Panamá.