Maite Hontelé & La Novia isa brand-new international music project led by the two-time Latin Grammy-nominated Dutch trumpeter and flugelhorn player Maite Hontelé alongside Latin Grammy-winning bassist Adinda Meertins. Together, they serve as the creative engines behind this nine-piece all-star ensemble that blurs the boundaries between traditional Latin grooves, modern salsa, contemporary pop, and jazz.
Key Project Details
The Vision: Billed as a groundbreaking collaboration, the project combines danceable, clave-driven Latin rhythms with accessible pop elements to shake up the traditional salsa scene.
The Leadership: Maite Hontelé (who spent a decade in Colombia collaborating with legends like Rubén Blades and Oscar D'León) acts as the frontwoman. Adinda Meertins (former member of Monsieur Periné) functions as the co-bandleader, composer, and baby-bass player.
The Album: The ensemble recorded their debut project at the Epic Rainbow Unicorn Studio in Rotterdam, with the album mixed by the renowned New York producer Fab Dupont. The formal album release is slated for October 2026.
The 9-Musician Lineup
The international collective consists of top-tier musicians from the contemporary Latin and jazz scenes:
Maite Hontelé – Flugelhorn / Trumpet
Adinda Meertins – Baby-bass
Lidia Madruga – Vocals
Francisco Rodríguez – Keyboards & Synthesizers
Ulrich de Jesus – Guitar
Rodney Barreto – Drums
Giovanni Molinari – Percussion
Alvaro Artime Jimenez – Trumpet
Julián Garvayo – Trombone
Tour Schedule & Live Performances
The band is currently embarking on an extensive international promotional tour throughout 2026:
Summer Festival Tour (July 2026)
July 4: Samosir Music International Festival (Samosir, Indonesia)
July 7: ARTJOG Performance Festival (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
July 9: Erasmus Huis (Jakarta, Indonesia)
July 11: Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents (Marseille, France)
July 12: North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
July 31: Tempo Latino Festival (Vic-Fezensac, France)