PONCHO SANCHEZ

Friday, September 3, 2010

Once an eager young disciple of the late Cuban conga master Mongo Santamaria and a sideman for Latin jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez now holds a position of prominence in the Latin jazz universe. A Mexican-American kid who was born in dusty Laredo, Texas, Poncho grew up to become an international ambassador for the music he has idolized since his youth. His remarkable record of accomplishments, including his Grammy Award for his 2000 release Latin Soul, makes Poncho a truly one-of-a-kind Latin music star. His music is a bold testament to his multi-faceted artistry and unbridled affection for the music to which he has dedicated his life.

BOOGALOO ASSASSINS

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Winner of Orange County Music Awards Best Latin Group in 2009 & 2010. Los Asesinos de Boogaloo fuse son montuno, cha cha cha, pachanga, guajiras, doo wop, and salsa spearheading the rebirth of the 1960's latin soul sound clash of East Coast Spanish Harlem. Fresh off their Joe Cuba tribute show in NYC with legendary salsa label FANIA Records, this all-star cast of musicians have shared the stage w/ latin grammy nominated Grupo Fantasma keeping "latin boogaloo" alive on the west coast! Dance in the streets of downtown Brea, as this charizmatic & exciting 11-piece performance pays homage to the forgotten legends!!! Members: Charles Farrar (Canta, Clave), Bobby Soul (Canta, Coros, Tambourine), Chiquis Lozoya (Canta, Coro, Maracas), Billy Purdy (Piano), Billy Rojas (Timbales), Richi Panta (Congas), Sergio Padilla (Bongos), Tom Cooke (Trombone), Joe Bautista (Sax), Richard Rochelle (Bass)

Reno Jones

Friday, September 10, 2010

Reno Jones is a busy Southern California R&B and Blues band performing primarily in the southwest. Award winners at the Monterey Blues Festival, headliners at B. B. King’s, Bluesapalooza, and The National Orange Show. Reno Jones is a regular at The Blue Café (home of the Southern California blues revival), at city concerts, fairs, blues festivals, and charitable events. A favorite of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy for which they have opened at The Starlight Bowl and The House of Blues, Sunset and Anaheim. The band inspired and is featured in the theatrical documentary film “Channeling Herzog” directed and being edited by Sundance award winner Harry Knapp (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”). Editing is in progress on the band’s own concert/documentary DVD, soon to be released, celebrating over 10 years of extraordinary adventures, fun, and making great music. www.renojones.com.

Read more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ7ou1DP4E4

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

Friday, September 11, 2010

Piazza grew up in Southern California and studied blues records and perfected his harmonica work.In the mid 1960s, Piazza formed his first band The House of DBS, which later changed its name to the Dirty Blues Band. The band signed with ABC-Bluesway and released two albums in 1967 and 1968. The band broke up in 1968, and Piazza formed Bacon Fat that year. Piazza's idol and mentor, George "Harmonica" Smith joined the band and they had a "dual harp" sound. Bacon Fat released two albums the following two years. Piazza left and worked in other bands before going solo in 1974.

He formed the Chicago Flying Saucer Band the following year and this evolved into the Mighty Flyers. The band recorded their first album in 1980. From that time through to the present, Piazza and his bandmates have released fourteen albums and tour blues clubs, venues and festivals in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

Richard Smith

Friday, September 17, 2010

Richard Smith was born in Detroit, raised in Eugene, Oregon. Attending a Chick Corea concert at the age of 14 changed his life. Making music has played the central role in Smith’s life since that fateful night.  "I soon was playing flute in the school band, string bass in orchestra, singing in the choir and guitar in the jazz band."

His first break came when guitar legend and USC instructor Joe Diorio recommended him for a gig with contemporary jazz pianist Billy Mitchell. Introducing Smith to R&B jazz, a style that has become an indelible part of Richard’s sound. “I fell in love with all of the beats that were kicking around, and when compared to the music in Eugene, it was such an amazing tapestry of sounds,  I wanted to jump into everything head-first”.  In short order, Smith started playing with the many L.A. Based groups of the day – Siegel, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Guitars and Saxes, Max Bennett. He joined Richard Elliot’s group and stayed for 10 years and 6 number one albums on the Blue Note label.  At the same time, Richard was rising in the ranks of the professorate at USC, making professor and department chair in the Studio/Jazz Guitar department before the age of 30. http://richardsmithguitar.com/

Louie Cruz Beltran

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Has crafted a musical career built upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic background and flavored with the edge of contemporary R&B, Jazz and Pop.  Steeped in music from early childhood, Beltran's first memories recall his Mother singing gospel and Mexican folk tunes.

"My Mother was always singing and liked to play piano.  There was always music in the house.  She loved to sing everything from church hymns to Benny Goodman hits, but to me Mom always sounded prettiest in Spanish."

In addition to performing regularly at various venues along the West Coast, Louie continues to work as a composer, recording artist and instructor. His CD, entitled, "It's My Time" and produced by Peter Michael Escovedo is available on his website

Banda Brothers Blues Project

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Banda Brothers...... Respect. Admiration. In the highly demanding field of music, they're awarded to only a choice few…to outstanding creative forces like Ramon and Tony Banda. Brothers from a musical family, they are best known to audiences the world over for the 20 plus years of solid, uncompromising work they spent as the backbone and anchors of one of the worlds most celebrated music ensembles, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band…Tony on bass, Ramon on drums & timbales. Ramon and Tony were born in 1954 & 1955 respectively and raised in Norwalk, California a suburb of Los Angeles. There was much music in the family home and surrounding neighborhood. By 1961 the brothers were performing on a regular basis all across Southern California, thus receiving invaluable "on the bandstand" experience at an unusually young age. It was during these formative years that the brother's love and appreciation for a wide variety of musical styles developed, especially Jazz / Latin / Rhythm & Blues.

Derek Bordeaux

Saturday, September 25, 2010

For more than 25 years, Derek Bordeaux has performed in Southern California and Las Vegas, becoming one of the most sought-after artists for his sultry renditions of Motown classics, Jazz and Blues standards. The Derek Bordeaux Group’s show is a high-energy, tight- paced, power-filled night of the most popular songs to ever grace the radio waves. You will feel the soul and hear the passion of this truly great vocalist. And don’t forget your dancing shoes, because everyone dances when Derek is in town!http://www.derekbordeaux.com/derek_music.html