The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band

Yoshi's Jazz Club at Jack London Square in Oakland will present Poncho Sanchez with his Latin Jazz Band for five steamy nights from June 27th through july 1st with two shows each night at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Sunday, July 1st. The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band features Poncho Sanchez on congas, David Torres on piano and musical director, George Ortiz on timbales, Joey De Leónon bongos & percussion, Tony Banda on bass, Javier Vergara on saxophones and flute, Ron Blake on trumpet & flugelhorn, and Francisco Torres on trombone.

Conguero Poncho Sanchez is widely respected as one of the top American percussionists of our time. He performs frequently in venues varying in size from concert halls to local jazz festivals. In his latest release, Raise Your Hand on Concord Picante,  conguero Poncho Sanchez and his legendary band pay homage to some of his soul heroes, as well as reaching into the timeless traditions of Afro-Cuban jazz and son. Standouts include their rousing treatments of the Stax soul classics "Raise Your Hand" and "Knock On Wood" and the Cuban son "¿Dónde Va Chichi?".

On October 30th 1951 Poncho Sanchez was born youngest of eleven children in Laredo, Texas and raised in Norwalk, California. Sanchez was exposed to and influenced by two very different styles of music: Afro-Cuban music (mambo, son, cha-cha, rhumba, guaracha, salsa) by greats such as Tito Puente, and bebop jazz, including the works of Charlie Parker. Startign as a guitarist and vocalistm Sanchez went on to teach himself the flute, drums, and timbales before finally deciding to pursue conga-playing in high school.

Inspired by the conga playing of Cuban great Mongo Santamaria, he honed his skills as a percussionist and broke into the limelight at the age of 23 when he joined vibraphonist Cal Tjader's famed Latin jazz ensemble in 1975. Poncho performed with him until Tjader's untimely death in 1982. A year later, he began his unprecedented 24-year relationship with Concord Records, which has produced two dozen recordings, several Grammy nominations and in 2000, Sanchez and his ensemble won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the Concord Picante album Latin Soul.

Come hear Poncho Sanchez with the Poncho Sanchez with his exciting Latin Jazz Band for five steamy nights from June 27th through July 1st at Yoshi's in Oakland with two shows each night at 8:00 PM annd 10:00 PM, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Sunday. Visit www.yoshis.com for tickets.