Jazz Police - Nachito Herrera: West Coast Tour, June 25-29

“With unbridled freedom, he jams with potent montunos and high-energy timba to solos that can melt snow off the sidewalk.”—Jesse Varela, Latin Beat Magazine

About ten years ago, one of the most promising jazz artists in Havana left his homeland for the cold winters but warm arts scene of Minnesota. Recently named recipient of the American Immigration Council’s prestigious American Heritage Award, pianist Nachito Herrera now has a rapidly growing international reputation for his monstrous technique and wide range of music that covers everything from traditional cha-cha and rhumba to Ellington to Earth, Wind and Fire. This coming week he brings it all to the West Coast, with trio performances in Santa Cruz at Kuumbwa Jazz Center (June 25), in San Francisco at Yoshi’s (June 27), and in Phoenix at the Musical Instruments Museum Theater (June 29).

In 2004, Herrera joined forces with a group of master Afro-Cuban musicians currently working throughout the U.S. but who converged at least monthly for a “Cuban All-Stars” gig at the Dakota, resulting in the 2005 release of Bembé en mi Casa (FM Music). Bembé reinforced the accolades that had swirled around him since his arrival, proclaiming Herrera, in the words of critic Tom Surowicz, “hotter than the burning tip of a contraband Cuban cigar… stronger than a straight shot of Havana rum….and tastier than a big platter of black beans, rice, sweet plantains and ropa vieja.” In 2006, Nachito toured the Midwest, led two bands at the Twin Cities’ Hot Summer Jazz Festival, and released Live at the Dakota 2. In 2007 he was named Best Jazz Artist by the readers of City Pages. In 2009 he toured nationally with the famed Afro-Cuban All-Stars led by Juan De Marcos, followed by an international solo tour. He has appeared at the Gilmore Piano Festival and at Joe’s Pub in New York, and to date has received four Minnesota Music Awards. In fall 2012, he will tour throughout the U.S. with the Havana Symphony. As pianist, arranger and producer, Nachito has over 40 recordings to his credit. He also presents master classes and teaches as a member of the piano faculty of the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis.

Nachito Herrera©Andrea Canter

Last week, Herrera traveled to Nashville to receive the 2012 American Heritage Award, the highest honor granted by the American Immigration Council. The award was presented at the American Immigration Lawyers Association Convention. One of three musicians to receive the award this year, Herrera is the first Latin musician honored since Carlos Santana.

With his monster technique, bottomless energy, and infectious enthusiasm for his homeland and its eclectic rhythms, even fans of trad and polka up in Minnesota tap their Sorrel boots to montuno and clavé. And the contagion now spreads west as Nachito Herrera bring his keyboard joy to Phoenix and the Bay Area!

West Coast Tour

 June 25, 7 pm, at Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz. Tickets $20 advance, $23 at the door; http://kuumbwajazz.org/2012/03/nachito-herrera-trio/

 June 27, 8 pm, Yoshi’s San Francisco. Tickets $20; http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/2804

 June 29, 7 pm, Musical Instruments Museum, Phoenix. Tickets $27.50-$32.50; http://mimmusictheater.themim.org/nachito-herrera