 Poncho Sanchez
Seasoned, versatile, finely meshed, and deeply, masterfully percussive, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band is perhaps the premier Latin jazz ensemble working today. They’ve recorded prolifically for the Concord label and have been honored with a Grammy and three Grammy nominations. An evening with Sanchez and his band promises to be a rhythmic, musical pleasure for body and soul. The band consists of longtime members Francisco Torres (trombone), Ron Blake (trumpet), Javier Vergara (saxophones), David Torres (piano), Tony Banda (bass), George Ortiz (timbales), Alfredo Ortiz (bongo, tres), and of course the master conguero himself, Poncho Sanchez.
Before conguero Poncho Sanchez started his Latin Jazz Band he served an important apprenticeship with Cal Tjader, a pioneering Latin jazz bandleader since the 1950s. Sanchez worked in Tjader’s group from the beginning of 1975 until Cal’s death in May 1982. Now he’s put together a group of fellow Tjader friends and alumni—bassist Rob Fisher, drummer Vince Lateano, and Roger Glenn on vibes—to pay musical tribute to Cal, their friend and colleague, and a towering figure in Latin jazz.
 Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
Vibraphonist and band leader Cal Tjader explored the music from Cuba, the Caribbean, and Latin America, and he never abandoned it, performing it until his death in 1982. In addition to the vibes, Tjader was also accomplished on the drums, bongos, congas, timpani, and the piano. He was awarded a Grammy in 1980 for his album La Onda Va Bien, capping off a career that had spanned over forty years.
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
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band at Yoshi's in San Francisco
May 8, 2008 - May 11, 2008
Thurs $24 & $28
Fri – Sun $28 & $32
Poncho SanchezTribute to Cal Tjader at Yoshi's at Jack London Square in Oakland
May 15, 2008 - May 18, 2008
Thurs both shows $22
Fri – Sun all shows $26
For more information vist yoshis.com |
Home | CD Reviews | Interviews | SF Bay Area | Chicago | Los Angeles | New York | Twin Cities, MN | More Cities | Festivals | FAQ | News | Contact | Video of the Week | 
Monday, 01 December 2008
