~by Dena Burroughs

THE LATIN GIANTS OF JAZZ AT THE MAYAN - January 15, 2008

   It was a great event at The Mayan on Thursday night when 21 Latin Giants of Jazz performed a first set around 10 pm and a second one that became a jam session around midnight. 

   The evening, presented by the Albert Torres events team, became a gathering of music lovers, musicians, and dancers; a good place to see folks that are not seen in clubs in a regular basis.  "I am seeing people here that I have not seen in ages!" said Shelly Lee, who was enjoying the company not only of old friends from L.A., but of the many musicians that are currently in town due to the NAMM event being held in Anaheim over the weekend.

   A few of those musicians, including some of our L.A. talents, joined the Latin Giants on stage during the jam session - Bobby Sanabria, Ralph Irizarri, Joey De Leon, Ernesto Valenzuela, and Eddie Resto within them.  Others attended just to enjoy the show and could be spotted mixed in the crowd - Johnny Polanco, Rudy Regalado, and Susie Hansen, for example.

   Those in attendance enjoyed the sound that comes from having over 1,000 years of collective musical experience on stage - And the sound was beautiful.