Café Cócomo- February 22, 2009

Photos by Peter Maiden

A benefit concert for KPOO Latin Music D.J. Chata Gutierrez was held Sunday, February 22 at the Café Cocomo in San Francisco. Chata, who has brought Afro-Cuban music to the airwaves for over 35 years, is being treated for cancer. The concert featured four of the best Latin bands in the Bay Area, Louie Romero and Mazacote, Anthony Blea and Charansón, Fito Reinoso and Ritmo y Harmonía, and Eric Rangel and Orquesta América. Turnout was good. Chata said the love and support of the musicians and dancers was “a better cure than chemotherapy.”

Chata

Louie Romero, timbales, Mazacote

Sal Núñez, vocals, Mazacote

Anthony Blea, violin, and John Santos, bongó, Charansón

Orlando Torriente, vocals, Charansón

John Calloway, piano, Charansón

Ayla Davila, bass, Charansón

M.C. Chuy Varela of KCSM

Fito Reinoso, center and his daughter Genesie, right, vocals, Ritmo y Harmonía

Fito Reinoso, vocals

Carlitos Medrano, Conga, Ritmo y Harmonîa

Dancers on the floor

l: Julio Bravo, r: Eric Rangel, Orquesta América

Artie Webb, Orquesta América

l to r: Carlos Ortega, Monchi Estevez, Eduardo Herrera, Orquesta América