SAN JOSE JAZZ SUMMERFEST SATURDAY PART 2

AUGUST 14, 2021

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY TOM EHRLICH © 2021

Part 2 of Saturday include three groups - Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra, Common and Rumbankete.

Pete Escovedo has been a major force in latin music since the 1960s playing with such notable musicians as Herbie Hancock, Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Santana and numerous others as well as leading a few different groups.  UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO HEALTH PROBLEMS PETE DID NOT APPEAR AT THE FESTIVAL.  His latin jazz orchestra did appear lead by Pete's talented son Peter Michael Escovedo with a powerhouse band with musicians from LA and the Bay Area.  The orchstra gave a outstanding, spirited performance.

Greg Bridges introducing the band

Radio DJ, Greg Bridges introducing the Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Juan Escovedo congas and Justo Almario sax

Pete's son Juan on congas. The world renowned reed player Justo Almario played both sax and flute during the performance.

Jonathan Montes keyboard

Jonathan Montes, originally from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, now living in LA is an outstanding musician, composer and arranger.

Juan Escovedo

Juan Escovedo congas and Marty Wehner trombone

Juan Escovedo, Peter Michael Escovedo and Oskar Cartaya

Juan Escovedo congas

Justo Almario

Justo is orignially from Columbia and now lives in LA.  He is an educator, composer, arranger, producer and one of the best sax/flute players in the world today. He has played with Mongo Santamaria, Roy Ayers, Charles Mingus, Freddie Hubbard, Cacahao and many others. 

Justo Almario

Justo Almario singing coro

Juan Escovedo, Justo Almario and Peter Michael Escovedo

Justo Almario and Peter Michael Escovedo

Oskar Cartaya bass

Oskar Cartaya, originally from Puerto Rico, now resides in LA is a well established bassist, composer, arranger and musical director of many other musicians and projects.  He has played with an amazing list of well known musicians such as  Spyro Gyra, Herb Albert, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Tito Puente and Robbie Robertson and many others.

Oscar Cartaya

Peter Michael Escovedo

Besides being an excellent percussionist and band leader Peter Michael is a producer, arranger and composer and has produced numerous recordings, events and television shows. as well as composing songs for films and television. 

Phil Hawkins

Ray Obiedo

Did not get the name of the singer who sang a few songs with the orchestra

NEXT UP WAS HIP HOP SUPERSTAR COMMON WITH A SIX PIECE BAND (KEYBOARRDS, BASS, DRUMS, DJ MUSICAL DIRECTOR, FLUTE AND TRUMPET, 3 BACK UP SINGERS AND A WOMAN HIP HIP HOP ARTIST WHO PERFORMED A FEW SONGS WITH COMMON.

Common, Muhsinah and Elena Pinderhughes

Muhsinah, Elena Pinderhughes and Keyon Harrold

These three talented artists are the back up singers and Elena Pinderhughes also plays flute and Keyon Harrold also plays trumpet.

Justpeej and Common

Justpeej rapped jointly with Common on some of the songs.

Keyon Harrold

Keyon is an acomplished jazz trumpeter and doubled as a back up singer for Common.

Muhsinah

Muhsinah was predominantly a bakc up singer and did sing lead vocals on a few sings.

Elena Pinderhughes

Elena Pinderhughes born and raised in Berkeley, California has been performing as a flutist since her pre-teens.  She currently resides in NYC and has developed into one of the best young jazz flutist as well as becoming an excellent vocalist.  She has performed with an impressive list of well known musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Christian Scott, Robert Glasper and many others.  She is destined for greatness.   Like Keyon Harrold, Elena doubled as a bakc up singer and flutist.

Part of Common's performance included him reading some of his poetry

Muhsinah, Elena Pinderhughes and Keyon Harrold

Justpeej

Keyon Harrold

Muhsinah and Common

Muhsinah, Elena Pinderhughes and Keyon Harrold

Common brought this woman from the audience to the stage during one song

Common

Common and Justpeej

Elena Pinderhughes

The last group of Saturday that I witnessed was the only Cuban music band of this years festival.  It was the latest version of Rubankete, a timba band from LA lead by Gonzalo Chomat and his partner Iris Cepeda.

Gonzalo Chomat and Iris Cepeda

Gonzalo Chomat

Iris Cepeda

Iris Cepeda was a member of Arte Mixto, when she lived in Cuba.

Unknown conga player

Gonzalo Chomat

Gonzalo Chomat and Iris Cepeda

Iris Cepeda

Iris Cepeda

Gonzalo Cepeda and Iris Cepeda