SAN JOSÉ JAZZ SUMMERFEST

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019

PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2019

As usual over the last few years, Sunday of the Summerfest started with some uplifting gospel music by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir at the Main Stage.

Dave Belove on bass

Next up to the salsa stage for some New Yorican style salsa by Manny Martínez y La Rebeldía

Manny brought some of the better younger generation salsa players from the Bay Area and presented a hot set of crowd pleasing salsa. CD sales at the end of the set confrimed that the dancers loved the music.

Manny Martínez

Ahkeel Mestayer congas and Steve Herrera bass

Christain Pepin

Eric Peralta piano, Steve Herrera bass and Ahkeel Mestayer

Julio Pérez bell and Mara Fox trombone

Mara Fox

Ray Martínez, Manny's brother

Christian Pepin

Eric Peralta

Manny Martínez

Ray Martínez and Manny Martínez

Ray Martínez

Back to the Main Stage for Carl Allen's Art Blakey Centennial Project, celebrating the late jazz drummer icon's 100th year since his birth. This all star ensemble paid an appropriate tribute to the great Art Blakey, whose band The Jazz Messengers was a training ground for countless future jazz greats. 

Carl Allen

Cyrus Chestnut

JD Allen

Jeremy Pelt

Peter Washington

Carl Allen

Cyrus Chestnut piano and Jeremy Pelt trumpet

Jeremy Pelt trumpet and Peter Washington bass

A quick trip to the Cafe Stritch Stage to see the young outstanding pianist Emmet Cohen with legendary jazz drummer Tootie Health.

Emmet Cohen

Tootie Heath

Tootie is 82 years old and he still can play.  He also performed a stand up comedy segment telling mostly x-rated jokes.

Tootie Heath

Back to the salsa stage to see Septeto Chappottín, a Los Angeles based band which plays traditional Cuban music.  Lead by Leider Chappottín of the famous Chappottín family, the band had some great players including Calixto Oviedo (NG La Banda), Gonzalo Chomat (Banda Metero) and Iris Cepeda (Arte Mixto) and a young up and coming pianist Odayls Caro, daughter of the great percussionist Carlos Caro.

Leider Chappottín

Azaris Pijuan

Calixto Oviedo

Denis Medina playing tres

Gonzalo Chomat

Iris Cepeda

Odalys Caro

Santiago Santiaste

Calixto Oviedo

Calixto Oviedo

Denis Medina

Gonzalo Chomat

Iris Cepeda nad Gonzalo Chomat

Iris Cepeda

Leider Chappottín and Odalys Caro

The last group of the festival for me was Elio Villafranca and his Cinque project which performed at the Hammer Theater Stage.  This star studded group played my favortie set of music of the festival.  Elio is one of the premier composers and arrangers on the scene.  This beautiful project is a musical story of Cinque from Congo who was ensalved, became free and lived in Cuba.  Elio released a recording of this project a couple of years ago and it is highly recommended.  Spectatular concert and a great way to end the festival.

Elio Villafranca

Elio is the leader, composer, arranger and pianist.  I have most of his recodings and every one is a masterpiece.

Arturo Stable is a top notch percussionist originally from Cuba.  He is also a band leader and composer.

Arturo Stable and Jonathan Troncoso on congas

Elio Villafranca

Freddie Hendrix on trumpet is also a band leader and participates in mnay types of project.

Greg Tardy on sax is also a band leader.

Jonathan Troncoso, great percussionist and also a band leader

Victor Lewis is a legendary jazz drummer.

Peter Slavov is a first call bassist.

Steve Turre is considered one of the bset if not the best trombonist alive.  He is a bandleader supreme and also plays conch shells.

Vincent Herring is one of the top reed instrument players in jazz and is also a band leader.

Elio Villafranca

Freddie Hendrix

Steve Turre and Freddie Hendrix

Elio Villafranca piano, Peter Slavov bass and Jonathan Troncoso African drum

Peter Slavov bass, Jonathan Troncoso African drum and Steve Turre shells

Steve Turre

Steve Turre

Vincent Herring