JESUS DÍAZ Y QBA
MOE'S ALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
JANUARY 3, 2009

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY TOM EHRLICH © 2008

It was in the low 30's outside, but inside Moe's Alley, it was hot, hot, hot, compliments of Jesus Díaz y QBA. The band played their great style of timba to a sold out crowd. The leader of the group, Jesus Díaz, is a world class percussionist, who plays and records with numerous dance, folkloric and jazz groups, as well as giving workshops worldwide. Jesus and QBA come down to Santa Cruz every couple of months and they are one of the few groups that will fill the club with timba/salsa dancers. Timba.com Kevin Moore considers QBA to be one of the top timba bands in the U.S. and I second that emotion.

Jesus and Orlando Torriente relaxing before the first set

Jesus Díaz

Jesus and Orlando Torriente sharing the lead vocal duties

Javier Navarette on congas and Colin Douglas on drums/timbales

Horn section in back includes Melecio Magdaluyo on sax, Jeff Lewis on trumpet and Jeff Cressman on trombone
Ayla Davila on bass

Murray Low on piano, Kevin Moore in background

Colin Douglas

Horn section Melecio Magdaluyo sax, Jeff Lewis trumpet and Jeff Cressman trombone

Javier Navarette played congas as well as coros

Jesus Díaz

Jesus and Orlando

Murray Low playing some mean timbaos

Orlanod Torriente

Jesus bell, Colin drums, Javier conga solo

The two Jeffs

Jesus alternated between vocals and bongos all night

Jesus on vocals and manager and producer Manolo Velasco on chekeré

Miguel and Loren on the dance floor

Murray Low

Orlando Torriente

Colin Douglas

Javier and Orlando

Jesus and Jeff Cressman on bone in the back

Jesus taking a solo on bongo

Jesus and Orlando

Murray Low

And the traditional invite dancers on stage

Ariel Oceguera on chekeré and Jesus

Ariel danced on stage during the encore

Makaya-Kayos from the Congo was in town to give a Congolese Dance class joined QBA during the encore playing bongos and dancing

Jesus Díaz

The crowd definitely got their money's worth at Moe's Alley. Thanks for a great night Jesus and QBA.