The Luis D’Elias Ensemble was founded in Boston in 2012 and is comprised of Josh Plotner (saxophone), Evan Waaramaa (piano), P.J. Duffy (bass), Brendan Pajak (drums), and Luis D’Elias (guitar). Among other frequent collaborators are Stefano Melillo (violin), Marianella Rojas (vocals), and Aaron Gratzmiller (saxophone). The project was conceived as an outlet for original music that draws its inspiration from the different traditions and rhythms of Venezuela and then reinterprets it in a modern context influenced by jazz, progressive rock, and classical music. The band aims to bring Venezuelan music to a broader audience, as well as bringing the Venezuelan community closer through sharing its music with people from across the globe. In Boston, they have performed in various venues across the city, including the Berklee Performance Center, the Museum of Fine Arts for a special homage to the president of MIT, Rafael Reif, the Boston Greenfest, the LilyPad, and Café 939, and are currently in the process of promoting the music in NYC in support of their debut album, Orígenes y Destinos.

The core goal of the ensemble is to share the wonders of Venezuelan and South American music and explore the potential it has to blend and transform with various genres and musical forms across the globe. It is of utmost importance for the group to create a musical family around Venezuelan and South American music. What is truly special is that the music is not only for Venezuelans, and it is also not made by just Venezuelans, which once again proves how music can transcend cultural barriers and bring people together.