SAN JOSÉ JAZZ SUMMERFEST

SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY TOM EHRLICH © 2022

Full day of music on Saturday.  The groups I covered were Interview of festival lead photographer Robert Burnbach, jazz supergroup Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, Cyrus Chestnut and Victor Jones who played twice at different venues, Omar Sosa Quarteto Americano, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Raul Midón and Sabor de Mi Cuba.

Greg Bridges interviewing Robert Burnbach

Greg Bridges well respected radio dj, interviewed Robert Burnbach, who has been the lead photographer for San Jose Jazz Summerfest for 10 years.  Robert is an outstanding photographer.  All photos included in my photos are all by Robert.  This photo is of Shamarr Allen playing the pocket trumpet.

Robert Burnbach with photo of Cyrus Chestnut

Very interesting interview for me especially since I could relate to all he said being a fellow "jazz" photographer.

Next over to the Montgomery Theater to see a band of veteran masters - Bobby Watson on sax, Curtis Lundy on bass, Cyrus Chestnut on piano and Victor Jones on drum set.   Oustanding set of music - they were so good, I checked them out twice - will post photos from both performances.

Bobby Watson sax and Curtis Lundy bass

Bobby Watson sax and Curtis Lundy bass

Bobby Watson

Bobby Watson

Bobby Watson

Bobby likes to pay in his socks - check them out.

Curtis Lundy bass and Cyrus Chestnut piano

Curtis Lundy

Curtis Lundy

Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut piano and Curtis Lundy bass

Victor Jones

Victor Jones

At the Montgomery Thater, the best venue for listening at the festival, witnessed Omar Sosa and his relatively new project Quarteto Americano.

Omar Sosa piano, Sheldon Brown sax, Ernesto Mazar Kindelán bass and Josh Jones drums

As the name indicates this quartet is made up of three musicians who live in the United States and Omar Sosa who resides in Spain.  Omar is is one of the most creative musicians alive - always involved in numerous projects with different band mates and configurations (solo, duo, quartet, trios, big band etc).  His regular quartet which I have known for many years is made up of three Cubans who live in Europe and a Mosambiquian bass player who lives in Spain.  They have been one of my favorite bands for a long time and I consider all the members my friends.  I was curious to hear this new quartet to see how they compare to his Eurpoean based quartet.  I was pleasantly surprised that his new quartet compared favorably with his original quartet.

Omar Sosa

Ernesto Mazar Kindelán

Ernesto Mazar Kindelán is an extremely talented bassist. Originally from Cuba, he was the bassist for the well known timba group Charanga Habanera.  Ernesto can play any type of music at a high level.  On this day, he played jazz with Omar Sosa and later in the evening he played bass for a timba group Sabor Mi Cuba, which I will report on at the end of this article.

Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown plays numerous reed instruments and played with Omar when Omar used to live in the Bay Area many years ago.  He is an excellent soloist.

Josh Jones

Josh Jones is a veteran drummer who leads his own groups and plays wtih many others.  He also used to play with Omar when he lived in the Bay Area.

Ernesto Mazar Kindelán

Omar Sosa

In recent years Omar has incorporated more dancing into his performances.

Omar and the quartet received enthusiastic responses from the crowd.

Next a trip to the main stage to see the famous South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo gave a wonderful performance with their lush harmonies, dance moves and socail justice lyrics.

Round two of Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, Cyrus Chestnut and Victor Jones at a small club like venue in the Hammer Theater.

Bobby Watson sax and Curtis Lundy bass

Bobby Watson and Terell Stafford

Special treat - the great trumpeter Terell Stafford sat in on one song.

Curtis Lundy

Cyrus Chestnut

Cyrus Chestnut

Curtis Lundy bass, Victor Jones drums, Terell Stafford trumpet, Bobby Watson

Terell Stafford and Bobby Watson

Terell Stafford

Victor Jones

Back to Montgomery Theater for a little guitarist/vocalist Raul Midón performing vocals and solo on guitar and bongo.

Off to the Salsa Stsge for the last group of the evening - finally some timba by an outstnding Bay Area timba group Sabor Mi Cuba lead by Carlitos Medrano.  All are originally from Cuba except for drummer Colin Douglas and horn player Charlei McCoy.  Colin is not Cuban but he sure sounds like he is.  He is a master of both the drum set and batas.

This band is made up of top notch players.  I believe this band is one of the best timba bands outside of Cuba.

Carlitos Medrano

Carlitos is a master percussionsist as well as a great composer and arranger.

Colin Douglas

Ernesto Mazar Kindelán

Ernesto is clearly a world class bassist who can excell in any type of music.  The former member of Charanga Habanera also played bass with Omar Sosa at the festival.

Julio De La Cruz

Julio plays piano as well as bass and is also world class musician.

Sulkary Valverde

Sulkary has a beautiful and strong voice.

Carlos McCoy

Carlos plays sax, flute and EWI for the group.

Carlitos Medrano

Carlitos Medrano

Sulkary Valverde and Niobel Cintra

Silkary Valverde and Niobel Cintra

Sulkary Valverde

Sulkary Valverde

Coming next, he final day of the festival with a major Cuban act. Stay tuned.