Xiques attended Boston University, where he studied with Jaki Byard and Herb Pomeroy. After graduating in 1962, he moved to New York and worked for several years as a teacher. He also played with such musicians as Buddy Morrow, Les Elgart, and Duke Pearson, and in 1970 was briefly a member of Woody Herman's band. During the '70s, he played with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra while also working freelance. From 1983-1986, he played with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin big band. In the '90s, Xiques remained active as a teacher, performer, and composer in and around the New York City area. Xiques ability as a doubler has made him especially valuable as a section player; besides Jones, Lewis, Akiyoshi and Tabackin, Xiques has also played with the Herb Pomeroy and Maria Schneider big bands, as well as the Jim McNeely Tentet and the Vanguard Orchestra. He's also played in bands backing such performers as Sammy Davis Jr., the Jackson 5, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Lou Rawls, and Gladys Knight. Xiques released two solo albums on his own Edex label in the '90s: Little Bear in 1992 and Spacewalk in 1996. Xiques is a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and the BMI Jazz Composers Orchestra; he's also on the music faculty at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. ~ Chris Kelsey, Rovi
