2023 SAN JOSÉ JAZZ SUMMERFEST

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2023 PART ONE

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY © TOM EHRLICH

This post. will include young blues sensation Vanessa Collier, Vibrason, Electronic bass master Marcus Miller and salsa group Óskar Ly.

Vanessa Collier vocals, Laura Chavez guitar and Andrew Cane bass

Blues performer Vanessa Collier, is a multitalented vocaliist, saxophonist and band leader who excells  in all her roles.  She has the talent and stage prescence to become a superstar.

Andrew Crane bassist

Byron Cage drums

Laura Chavez guitar

Vanessa's band were all talented especially guitarist Laura Chavez who played firey solos throughout the set.

Vanessa Collier

Laura Chavez guitar and Vanessa Collier sax

Vanessa Collier

Vanessa Collier sax

Vanessa Collier sax

Vanessa Collier

Laura Chavez guitar, Vanessa Collier and Andrew Crane bass

A memorable set of music - great way to start the day.

Odalys Caro piano, Luis Morales vocals, Carlos Caro congas, Steve Herrera bass, Jake Jacobs percussion and Charlie Barreda vibes

Next up was one of the better Afro-Caribbean music bands in the Bay Area Vibrasón.  This set of music was a latin jazz set played in a theater.  They also played a set of dance music at the outside  Latin Tropical Stage which I did not photograph.

The band included:  Jake Jacobs leader/percussion, Karl Perraza percussion, Carlos Caro congas, his daughter Odalys Caro piano, Steve Herrera bass, Charlie Barreda vibes and Julio Perez timbales.

Carlos Caro

Carlos Caro is a veteran percussionist originally from Cuba who played with Paulito and Opus 13 when he still lived in Cuba.

Carlos Caro

Charlie Barreda on claves

Jake Jacobs 

Steve Herrera bass, Julio Pérez timbales and Karl Perraza maracas

Julio Pérez is an excellent percussionist from Puerto Rico and played timbales in this band.  Karl Perraza is also an excellent percussionist who is a band leader and plays percussion in Carlos Santana's band.

Julio Pérez and Karl Perraza

Karl Perraza

Odalys Caro piano, Carlos Caro congas and Steve Herrera bass

Odalys Caro is a young pianist who plays with numeorus bands in the Bay Area.  She creates excellent tumbaos and solos.

Charlie Barreda vibes

Charlie Barreda plays vibes reminicent of Cal Tjader..  Nice set of music.

Marcus Miller Group

Marcus Miller is considered by many to be the best electric bass player in the world today., who is also a great composer, arranger, band leader and producer of many special projects.

Marcus Miller's hands

This photo shows Marcus Miller's slap bass stype.  His masterful playing includes Jazz, R&B, opera, movie scores and has been on over 500 recordings.

Unfortunetely I did not get the names of the other band members.

Marcus Miller

Marcus Miller showed his versatility playing a couple of sings on the bass clarinet.

Marcus Miller

An absolute fantastic set of music.

Óskar Ly piano and Sarah Vincenty

The last group in this post is Óskar Ly  y Rumbalú, a Bay Area salsa group led by Columbian pianist Óskar Ly featuring Puerto Ricanj vocalist Sarah Vincenty which performed at the outside Latin Tropical Stage.

Óskar Ly

The band's music is described as a fusion of jazz, salsa, pop and Afro-Latin rhythms.

Julio Pérez

Puerto Rican percussionist Jullio Pérez played congas.

Unknown timbalero

Unknown saxophonist

Sarah Vincenty

Óskar Ly

Óskar Ly

Sarah Vincenty vocals and Óskar Ly piano

Sarah Vincenty

Sarah Vincenty

Sarah Vincenty

UP NEXT IS PART 2 OF SATURDAY - WITH THE DYNAMIC CIMFUNK, THE CUBAN JAMES BROWN.