VOICES OF LATIN ROCK SHOW: 8TH YEAR!!
THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY 2012. Bimbos San Francisco.
Happy New Year!!
Well; it’s Voices Of Latin Rock time again the 8th show-
amazing that these great charity shows came out of my book.
Thanks to Dr Bernie Gonzalez, Jeffrey Trager, Ron Sansoe,
Chuy Varela, Sam T and Bobby Sandoval and
all the fantastic musicians who make these shows happen…….
And all for Autism awareness, viva La Mission musicos
This year is The Family Stone headlining plus Blanca, also
Miles Of Will featuring Miles Schon and Will Champlin plus Vernon Black
heading up The Voices Of Latin Rock All-Star band.
Plus honourees and special guests.
Peter and Benjamin Bratt invite you to join them at this year’s SF Carnaval! The brothers, who directed and stared in the recently released film, La Mission, will be the grand marshals for the 2010 Carnaval parade!
We were there in 2009 with cameras rolling. McCarthy had his interview face on. We sat in Jerry Garcia’s favorite dressing room downstairs at the Warfield. And some other places too. And then the bands started playing. But we were hearing the music all day.
Ladies and Gentlemen and Latin Rock music lovers, this is our inaugural year for the Armando Peraza Award. This award named after the legendary and world-renowned percussionist is for service to both the Hispanic and music communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. This year’s honorees will be the first to receive the award as they have displayed a great affection and service to both of these communities and we wish to applaud them with the presentation of this award.
Our special honoree tonite, who is in receipt of our Armando Peraza Award is a music industry innovator, a true original that we are proud to be presenting this too. In fact, he was the initial catalyst after contacting him in New York in 1985, for me later coming to the USA, meeting Mike Carabello, then Jeff Trager and Ron Sansoe and the Voices book and subsequent shows being born. He has also shared many stages around the world with Armando, so this award could not be more appropriate.
Santana & Shrieve - Voices 6
Voices 6 January 2010
Carlos & Michael-Voices 6
From an early age he displayed a restless search for both musical knowledge and excellence. After initially honing his craft playing with a group called Glass Menagerie and then various soul bands and organ quartets, around the Palo Alto area, he landed his first big opening with the original Santana band. Within months he had contributed genre- defining drums to their ground-breaking debut album. He also made a now iconic and electrifying appearance with Santana at the Woodstock festival later that year with the resulting ascent to stardom the group received.
The Santana group, in the space of the next two years, constantly toured the USA and around the globe, as they were a global phenomenom. He and they also managed to record two further Latino rock classics, the timeless Abraxas and the scorching Third Album.
By this time our recipient had amalgamated many diverse techniques into his drum kit playing, such as Latin, jazz, rock, fusion and funk, all folded into a flavorful and distinct
melding of styles.
He went onto to further influence the growth of Santana music with the critically acclaimed albums, Caravanserai, Welcome and Borboletta and the then Japanese import of the live Lotus recording.
After departing Santana, he was involved in one of the best bands you’ve never heard, the cult group that was Automatic Man, a group way before it’s time. (A shout out to Doni Harvey, the band bassist who’s with us here tonite!!) While residing in London, England and Europe, he also played on the Go trilogy with Stevie Winwood and the avant-garde Japanese percussionist Stomu Yamashata.
These projects found him experimenting with the first wave of electronic percussion both onstage and in the studio.
A move to New York City, found him establishing the power pop band Novo Combo with two album releases. Plus work guesting with various acts, such as Todd Rundgren, Pat Travers, The Rolling Stones & Mick Jagger to name but few.
As well as this he has produced a series of critically acclaimed solo releases such as Transfer Station Blue, Fascination, Stiletto, The Leaving Time, The Big Picture, Two Doors and the current release Spellbinder, who we have enjoyed here tonight!
Apart from being a great musician, he’s an engaging and open person, a lyricist and a composer/producer, who has recently produced acts such as New Moonsoon, Douglas September, Ruby Dee & The Snake Handlers and many more.
He has a knack of linking with and has also played with a stellar array of guitarists – here are some; Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Al Di Meola, Pat Thrall, Bill Frizell, Pat Travers, Buckethead, Shawn Lane, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Carlos Rios, Kevin Shrieve, Pete Hewlett, Jack Griffiths, Danny Godinez, Dave Edmonds, David Torn, Andy Summers among others.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his continuing delight in and innovation in the field of music.
The phrase “pushing the envelope” is often overused but this gentleman embodies that term with a non-clichéd and questing attitude for the new and daring in his musical search.
Here is information about the 6th Annual Voices of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benefit for The Alex Speaks Foundation. The Alex Speaks Foundation’s goal is to help support children struggling with an autism disorder by contributing to autistic programs at local schools. The Alex Speaks Foundation was formed to partner with the Voices of Latin Rock event to raise funds for those programs. We are pleased to announce that this year’s recipients will include The MIND Institute and the San Carlos Special Ed Program.
This year we are thrilled to announce not one but two shows, bringing the event back to its roots at Bimbo’s 365 Club on Thursday January 21st and Friday January 22nd. Look for a second email with the lineup for the other date and get more details at: http://www.rbpevent.com/volr/
Could you please make sure to list these upcoming benefits in the calendar section of your publication and possibly do a pick or run a photo?
You can download hi-res photos for the artists at the links to the left, or read more at their downloadable bio.
Taj Mahal
Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and actor Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. He was also a remarkable figure in the movie “Sounder”, performing alongside Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective is reflected in his music. www.Tajblues.com
Lenny Williams
of Tower of Power
Former lead singer for Tower of Power, California native Lenny Williams possesses one of most distinctive voices in contemporary music. Lenny is rightfully regarded as of one R’B's most recognizable vocalists and began his musical career making records that have subsequently become R’B and Pop Classics, such as “Cause I Love You” from the movie “Kings of Comedy” which has been sampled by artists such as Kanye West and Twista, garnering Lenny Hip Hop Songwriter of the Year in 2007. Lenny also had hits like “Don’t Change Horses”, “What is Hip?”, and “So Very Hard to Go” as the lead vocalist for Tower of Power in the 70′s. As an icon of the past and the present, Lenny Williams continues to tour nationally and has recently added acting to his entertaining skills. www.LennyWilliams.com
Lester Chambers
of the Chambers Brothers
Lester Chambers is a Singer, Harmonica and percussion player extraordinaire, pioneering the rock, soul and psychedelic music of the 60′s that inspired so many people. Lester is an American musical Icon performing and recording nearly every musical genre America holds true. The soulful funk of his band drives the audience to get up out of their seats and groove. Lester Chambers is the ideal performer to bring a diverse, cross-generational audience to any venue. Lester Chambers appeals to every lover of contemporary music. Lester knows rock and roll. He Is Rock and Roll! lester-chambers.com
Members of The Doobie Brothers with Tommy Johnston and Marc Russo along with Lara Johnston
As one of the most popular Californian pop/rock bands of the ’70s, the Doobie Brothers evolved from a mellow, post-hippie boogie band to a slick, soul-inflected pop band by the end of the decade. Along the way, the group racked up a string of gold and platinum albums in the U.S., along with a number of radio hits like “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” and “China Grove.” Guitarist/vocalist Tom Johnston and Saxophonist Marc Russo will bring the sounds of the Dobbie Brothers to life for this special night at Bimbo’s. www.doobiebros.com
Carlos Reyes &
his Electrick Symphony
Carlos Reyes recording artist, producer, engineer, harpist and violinist– has been breaking musical barriers since his first public performance at the age of five. He made his debut on harp with the Oakland Symphony and his debut on the violin with the Oakland Youth Symphony at just fourteen years of age and then played all over the SF bay area with the Jazz-Rock group Merlin. Along with an international musical reputation, Mr. Reyes has amassed a large enthusiastic Bay Area following, always wondering what new surprise or style of music he’ll bring to the stage. His charismatic personality and outstanding musical talents are a potent combination with which he performs an extensive and entertaining repertoire. www.Carlosreyesmusic.com
Voices of Latin
Rock Experience – Led by legendary percussionist Karl Perazzo with members of Santana, Malo, El Chicano, War, Etta James Band, and Avance
Every musician has an idol, a performer or group that embodies what they wish to become. From his childhood in San Francisco, Karl Perazzo wanted to play with Santana. “I used to play with the band when I was younger,” he jokes, “but then the needle broke.” However, young Perazzo did have considerable talent, and had played with Cal Tjader, Malo, Ray Obiedo, Prince and Andy Narell by the time he was 12. His life-long dream was realized in 1991 when he joined Santana to play timbales. Perazzo has also performed and recorded with Mariah Carey, Dizzy Gillespie, Phish, The United Nations Orchestra and John Lee Hooker. www.myspace.com/karlperazzo
Holly Stell
Dubbed “Petite Pavarotti” by Oprah Winfrey, Holly Stell is a 17 year old beauty with an exceptional gift for singing opera. At age 11 she recorded a duet with Andrea Bocelli and has twice been a soloist at the White House Christmas Tree Lighting. This vocal prodigy has since garnered worldwide acclaim for her angelic stage presence and heartfelt emotional delivery. Just as comfortable performing with a live orchestra in a concert hall as she is playing with her friends in her neighborhood, one thing is certain-Holly Stell will leave a lasting impression. www.hollystell.com
Tickets and Info
Table Reservations Only
Tables for 10: $1,750-$1000 Packages
Tables for 6: $600-$900 Packages
Tables for 4: $600 Packages
More Info at: http://www.rbpevent.com/volr
Table & Raffle Tickets at: http://www.rbpevent.com/volr/paypal
CLICK HERE FOR PURCHASE ORDER/DONATION FORM
Location:
Bimbo’s 365 Club
1025 Columbus Avenue (at Chestnut Street)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Armand Peraza
Join an all-star band to dance and celebrate legendary percussionst Armand Peraza’s brithday with Yoshi’s Oakland wirh John Santos and Orestes Vilato on Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 20th with sets at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Through his long associations with jazz pianist George Shearing, vibraphonist Cal Tjader and guitarist Carlos Santana, Armando Peraza has been internationally known from the 1950s through to the 1990s. Although primarily known as a bongocero and conguero, Peraza is also an innovative and accomplished dancer and composer. Peraza has been featured on classic recordings by Perez Prado, Machito, George Shearing, Charlie Parker, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader and Carlos Santana.
Significantly, and uniquely amongst the great Cuban percussionists, Peraza has for many years been an important socio-political figure, a symbol of Afro-Cuban achievement through his virtuoso musicianship and his refusal to be defeated by racism. His work with Shearing, Tjader and Santana brought him international fame. He has been inducted into the Smithsonian Institution’s Hall of Jazz Legends and has had three official “Armando Peraza Days” by the City of San Francisco.
Armand Perazaleft Cuba for Mexico in 1948 to tend to his sick friend, conga drummer Mongo Santamaria. They subsequently moved to New York City in 1949, where after sitting in with Machito’s big band, Peraza was personally requested by the great Charlie Parker to participate on a record date with Parker, Buddy Rich and many others. He also recorded with Slim Gaillard in New York in November 1949, a session that produced an exemplary virtuoso performance from Peraza on “Bongo City”. He toured the entire U.S. with Slim Gaillard’s band and ended up in San Francisco, where Gaillard owned the famous San Francisco nightclub, Bop City. After a period in Mexico, where he recorded with Perez Prado and also recorded many soundtracks for the Mexican movie industry, he returned to the U.S. and settled in San Francisco, a city of such charm and beauty and where he still lives to this day. While located on the West Coast, he worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Gaillard, toured extensively with Charles Mingus and Dexter Gordon and performed up and down California for the Mexican farm workers with Puerto Rican actor and musician Tony Martinez (who played “Pepino” on the TV show The Real McCoys). Armando also headed up an Afro-Cuban dance review at the Cable Car Village club in San Francisco, attracting a clientele from Hollywood that included Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando and Rita Hayworth.
In 1954, while performing in San Francisco with pianist Dave Brubeck, Peraza met Cal Tjader, who was Brubeck’s drummer at the time. Legendary jazz writer Leonard Feather recommended Armando to Fantasy Records, along with Tjader to record an Afro-Cuban album, which was titled “Ritmo Caliente” and was groundbreaking in its use of Afro-Cuban rhythms with a Jazz sensibility and was followed up in 1957 with “Mas Ritmos Caliente”. During this period, Peraza was introduced to British pianist George Shearing by bassist Al McKibbon. Peraza joined Shearing’s band for the next 12 years and was a collaboration that found Peraza at the forefront of a new wave of popularity for Afro-Cuban music. Shearing’s music is now regarded as “light” in jazz terms, but the rhythms and harmonic structures Peraza introduced to the pianist’s music were unerringly authentic. It was during his time with Shearing that Peraza emerged as a composer, writing and recording twenty-one songs for Shearing, such as “Mambo in Chimes”, “Mambo In Miami”,”Ritmo Africano”, “Armando’s Hideaway”, “This is Africa”, “Estampa Cubana” and many others. These recordings were at the heart of the “mambo craze”, which swept the U.S. and the world and Peraza became highly visible, which was a major achievement for an Afro-Cuban at that time.
Peraza’s extraordinary technique and expressive power as a hand drummer became a feature of Shearing’s performances. He toured the world over with Shearing but it was in America where he experienced persistent and institutionalized racism. An example of this was an incident in Miami during dates with Shearing and Peggy Lee in 1959, Peraza and the other black members of the band were not allowed to stay at the same hotel as the white musicians. Shearing and Lee resolved the situation by threatening to pull out of the performance unless Peraza and the others were “allowed” to stay at their hotel. Shearing was one of the first racially integrated jazz groups, which was groundbreaking in its own right. While with Shearing, Peraza had the distinct opportunity to play with the classical symphonies of Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Oklahoma City. He also participated in two command performances for Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. In 1959, Peraza joined Mongo Santamaria for the classic Mongo album, one of the most important recordings of Afro-Cuban “folklore” music ever. It included conga drummer Francisco Aguabella, another contemporary and friend of Peraza, and “Afro-Blue”, a song that became a jazz standard once John Coltrane had recorded it.
In the early 1960s, Peraza joined Cal Tjader’s band for the next six years. He also was encouraged to perform and record in Southern California by his friend, jazz drummer Shelley Manne. Peraza performed throughout the area at such venues as Shelley’s Manhole (owned by Shelley Manne) and The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. A highlight was performing with the Stan Kenton Band for the opening of the Hollywood Bowl. Through his friendship with Manne, he was introduced to Judy Garland, who immediately signed Peraza to play in her orchestra for the The Judy Garland Show, a television series that ran from 1963 to 1964. In the fall of 1964, he recorded the seminal LP Soul Sauce with Tjader. The single “Guachi Guaro” won a Grammy Award in 1965 and has recently enjoyed renewed popularity in both the London and Madrid Acid Jazz club scenes.
Although Peraza’s never had a desire, nor welcomed the headache of being a bandleader in his own right and much preferring to be a featured performer, he did record one solo album in 1968. His Wild Thing LP on the Skye label, which was co-owned by Tjader, Gary McFarland and Gábor Szabó, features performances from pianist Chick Corea and Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and flautist Johnny Pacheco. He had previously been featured as a solo artist on the 1959 album ‘More Drums On Fire’. His performance on conga and bongos on the piece “Artistry In Rhythm” was widely lauded as a standard-setting masterpiece.
Adaptability and an open mind are the hallmarks of Peraza’s approach, so that when Rock music took hold of the business in the late 60s, Armando was the first Afro-Cuban percussionist to add conga drums to a rock track, notably on Harvey Mandel’s Cristo Redentor album in 1968.
In 1972, at the age of 48, Peraza joined the Santana group, which was embarking on its most creative period and helped influence the band in melding the genres of Afro-Cuban, Jazz, Rock and Blues. Peraza remained with Carlos Santana for nearly twenty years and played to millions around the globe, partnering with other outstanding percussionists like Chepito Areas, Mingo Lewis, Raul Rekow and Orestes Vilató. The profile of Afro-Cuban percussion had never been higher. While with the Santana band, Armando wrote and co-authored a total of 16 songs which were recorded by Santana. The best known is probably “Gitano” from the album Amigos and has Peraza singing the lyrics he wrote himself. His jazz-inflected piece “Mandela” was recorded on the ‘Freedom’ album. Santana’s recordings featured many outstanding performances from Peraza, notably his conga solos on “Hannibal” (‘Zebop!’), “Bambele” and “Bambara” (both ‘Viva Santana’), and “Mother Africa” (’Welcome’). John Santos says that Peraza is “perhaps the greatest bongocero in the history of that instrument.”
Now in semi-retirement and living and enjoying life in the San Francisco Bay Area with Josephine, his beloved wife and business partner of over 30 years, Peraza continues to hold workshops and play selective gigs and Jazz festivals around the world. Now in his 80s in 2005 he appeared on a recording by Bay Area musician John Santos. Santos’ “20th Anniversary” set included the piece ‘El Changüí De Peraza’, which highlighted Peraza’s superb bongo playing. He returned to his native Cuba in 2002, his first trip to the island in more than 50 years and plans to return as many times as possible. Armando has a daughter Traci and three grandchildren: Adriel, Jalil and Jehireh.
In July 2006, Peraza, at 82 years of age, made a rare appearance with the Santana Band for a very special three show performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. This was the first of a number of summer live appearances. Later, in August 2006, Peraza appeared at the San José jazz festival in California, sitting in with the Julius Melendez Latin Jazz Ensemble, as well as giving a drum clinics throughout California with Raul Rekow and Karl Perazzo, both currently with Santana. Also in 2006, Peraza recorded with Bay Area pianist Rebeca Mauleon’s album “Descarga en California” (Universal/Pimienta). He also co-wrote a tune on the album titled “Cepeda Forever”, honoring his longtime friend and baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda.
In January 2007, Peraza received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Voices of Latin Rock. The fabulous tribute show was held at the historic Bimbo’s nightclub in San Francisco, CA and was attended by Carlos Santana, who presented Peraza with a beautiful award. Also attending and performing were members of the group Malo and a reunion of the original Santana band, with Chepito Areas, Mike Carabello,Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival in 1969, The Gregg Rolie Band will be performing at the Hard Rock Café in New York City on June 4th 2009.
Making this an extra special attendance will be original Santana drummer Michael Shrieve, who will join Gregg and original conga player Mike Carabello. Thus, 50% of the original Santana band will be performing that night. Original timbales player Jose “Chepito” Areas’ son Adrian will also be part of the ensemble, following in his father’s footsteps on timbales, drawing the Santana links even closer. The Woodstock film has been re-mastered by Edie Kramer, among others, in a new stunning 5.1 stereo print. The Santana band are among the artists re-presented with entirely new footage and will be featured in the extra filming with a song from their hour long set, Evil Ways.
Apparently there were rumours of the Persuasion song’s inclusion in this Woodstock edition’s extras but the powers that be at Sony allegedly have held this back.
Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve have also been the focus of the renowned documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple (who has done incisive and weighty documentaries on The Dixie Chicks and Gregory Peck, amongst others). Kopple has interviewed them both for an upcoming film (in tandem with Michael Lang)
on Woodstock and its significance. This film is for the VH1/History Channel. Apparently Matt Cameron, the Seattle based drummer, who has played with Soundgarden, has also done an interview with Shrieve and Michael’s current band Spellbinder has been filmed also.
Michael Shrieve noted that Woodstock “changed the course of my life. To this day not a day goes by when someone doesn’t bring it up,” either in person or online. He and bandmate Greg Rolie also discussed whether guitarist Carlo Santana had taken acid or mescaline before the group went on – earlier, they noted, than expected.”
In a recent telephone conversation Gregg recalls the nascent Santana performance, “ At Woodstock, we really didn’t think it was a big deal. We were like jazz players. Carlos had his back to the audience a lot. I don’t remember that we really even talked about the gig that much afterward. We were essentially playing to each other. There just happened to be 50.000 people watching at the time!”
Apr 4 – 24th St Fair for Cesar Chavez w/ Manzo
Apr 10 – Little Fox – Caravanserai & Zanzibar www.foxdream.com
April 25 – Black Oak Casino w/ Zebop www.blackoakcasino.com
May 1 – Avalon -Cinco de Mayo Dance w/Latin Affect & Silveradoz www.nightclubavalon.com
May 2 – Phoenix Cinco de Mayo w/ Malo
May 5 – Fresno MEGA Radio Cinco de Mayo w/ Malo
May 8 – Little Fox – Tony Lindsay & Tribal Blues Band w/ Raya Zion www.foxdream.com
May 8 – Rocapulco – El Cano Estremera www.ticketfiesta.com
May 15 – Stockton Civic w/ Malo & El Chicano & Manzo
MAY 23 – Malo @ LA Greek Theater
May 24 – Santa Barbara Bowl w/ WAR & Malo
May 23 – Carnaval
May 24- Carnaval
May 29 – New Mexico – Malo @ Route 66
July 3 – Slim’s w/ La Ventana , Zanzibar & Los Cochinos www.slims-sf.com
July 25 – Little Fox w/ La Ventana & Safari www.foxdream.com
July 31 – Black Oak Casino w/ Malo www.blackoakcasino.com
Aug 1 – TBA
Aug 29 – San Pedro Warner Theater w/ Malo
Oct 2&3 – Laughlin Nev. w/ Malo
Oct 4 – Golden Gate Park w/ Malo
Here is just one of the many photos taken the night of the show. We are putting together a complete gallery, so signup for our mailing list and we’ll notify you as soon as it is available. Thanks to all for their generous support!
Tags:Carlos Santana, Linda Tillery, Shiela E
