Friday
La comida criolla was this year’s theme. Opening night of the largest free jazz festival in the world, SJ Jazz had locals Los Rumberos play a hot set to ignite the stage for the appearance of Bobby Sanabria and Assención. Talk about heat! Stellar musicians including Dr. Chris Washburne, Mitch Frohman, Jay Collins and Chembo Corniel joined Sanabria. The crowd was rockin’ to the Afro-Cuban beat laid out, oh so stunningly, by Sanabria and the band.

To continue the party, Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye and Manny Oquendo & Libre hit the HP Pavilion stage for a New York Salsa dance party. The appearance of either band at any one time is a West coast treat. But to have them both appear the same night was an accept ional. Irizarry tore up the timbales in the opening set. Oquendo, with Eddie Zervigon, Jorge Maldenado, Frankie Vazquez   and Andy Gonzalez fed the fire as they played in that Libre style.

The HP Pavilion was not the best venue: too big for the medium sized crowd that appeared. But the festival   was off to a great start. ¡Viva   la musica!

Saturday
A second, glorious day, bright with sun, music and more! The Latin theme exploded with

Charanga Nueve, Palenque, Mazacote and Jesus Diaz y su QBA at the Salsa stage. Non-stop dancing and all the salseros were out in the heat. The Latin stage featured Viva Brazil, Rumba Club, Al Molina Latin Jazz Sextet and Insight of Boston. More at the Main stage with Pete Escovedo and guests Ray Vega and Justo Almario. The Jovino Santos-Neto Trio graced the stage at the SJ Repertory Theatre.

Sunday
The Salsa stage opened with John Calloway’s Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, which wowed the crowd as the young musicians soloed and improvised like professional musicians! More energetic music with Wild Mango,   followed by Maestro Benny Velarde and his Supercombo. An honor to hear his music. The day closed with Anthony Blea & su Charanga. Guest solos by Ray Vega, Karl Perazzo and Raul Navarette , ripped across the stage. Excellent set!

The performance by the legendary Ray Barretto and his New World Spirit was both moving and memorable. A stunning arrangement of ‘Sometimes I feel like a motherless child’ by sax player ???,   left the crowd breathless. Pete Escovedo joined Barretto for some sassy percussion. Un placer y un honor para nosotros ¡gracias Maestros!

Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana took the stage in the SJ Rep. Her flute and tenor sax solos were vibrant and lyrical, with brash accompaniment   on piano, bass, percussion (Jesus Diaz) and Larry Kramer on trumpet and flugelhorn.

John Santos and Machete tore up the stage with guests Jerry Medina, young Camilo Molina Gaetan on timbales and Obanilú Allende on   congas. The energy was unsurpassed as Ray Vega joined in, Karl Perazzo, Martin Vanronk and others as the infectious set moved all.

Kudos to SJ Festival Director, Steve Saperstein. I think next year,   should the Latin fever continue, the festival should be renamed the San Jose Latin Jazz Festival! Party on and we look forward to next year!

Visit the GALLERY to viewa photo exhibit by Tom Ehrlich.

 

Review ©2004 by Julia Sewell
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