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~by Dena Burroughs
THE SAN JOSE JAZZ FESTIVAL - August 9th and 10th, 2008
Several streets in the
center of the city of San Jose, CA, are closed down to automobile
traffic this weekend. Instead, thousands of people walk around,
hurrying from one stage to another, trying to keep up with a schedule of
performers that does not stop since noon to 9 pm. With the main stage
at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez, the 19th Annual
Comcast San Jose Jazz Festival stretches for several blocks to
include a Salsa, Latin Jazz, Blues, and R&B stages, and some more.
On Saturday, at 4 pm, Cuban saxophonist
Yosvany Terry [
http://www.yosvanyterry.com ], who has performed with great names
such as Chucho Valdez and the group Cubanismo, graced the main stage
along with Pedro Martinez, Ernesto Simpson, Osmany Paredes and Yunior
Terry. At the same time, Rumbache [
http://www.myspace.com/rumbache ] a Salsa band from Berkeley, CA,
performed on the Salsa stage.
At 5 pm, on the Latin Jazz stage, the John
Santos Quintet [
http://www.johnsantos.com ] performed their Afro-Latin repertoire.
At 6 pm, an energetic Conjunto Karabali [
http://www.myspace.com/karabali ], led by Mike Spiro and Santana’s
percussionist Karl Perazzo, put the crowd to dance from the Salsa
stage. Back on the Latin Jazz stage, Bobby Matos [http://www.bobbymatosmusic.com]
performance began at 7 pm.
Saturday’s last performance on the Salsa
stage was Jesus Diaz and su QBA [
http://www.bombomusic.com ], awesome group which was recently in
L.A. performing at King King. With him, on vocals, were Cuban newcomer
Felix Samuel and well known Bay area singer Orlando Torriente. Their
segment became a jam session later on when the Yosvany Terry crew joined
them on stage. It was Timba heaven.
Whether calmly enjoying the Latin Jazz
performances, or wildly turning to the timberos and the
salseros, smiling faces showed that the music full Saturday at the
San Jose Jazz Festival was a success. The festival continues Sunday
with performances by, between many more, Anthony Blea y su Charanga,
Chembo Corniel and Chaworo, and the Bay Area’s Salsa band Avance.
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Rumbache on the Salsa stage |
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