Beautiful Summer – SF Bay/Northern California

Hi Everyone, I just got back from a much needed vacation in Europe.  However, the San Francisco Bay Area has been enjoying a slew of fine events to kick off the Summer.  The Los Van Van free concert at Stern Grove was a complete blast!  Los Van Van led by el maestro Samuel Formell on the hybrid drum/timbal set played everyone’s favorites led by the fearsome front line of vocalists Mandy Cantero, Roberton, Lali and Vanessa.  The band was in awesome form playing to everyone’s delight with the crowd standing, cheering and dancing!  I had the honor of guest emceeing the event along with season host Liam from KPIX Channel 5.  The show was co-sponsored by my radio station KPFA and featured Banda Sin Nombre as the opening act…..SF Jazz kicked off the Summer with the San Francisco Jazz Festival which featured outstanding performances by the awesome Cuban big band Orquesta Akokan led by former Pupi Y Los Que Son Son vocalist Jose “Pepito” Gomez  and featured special guest saxophonist Cesar Lopez of Irakere fame; the great Cuban vocalist Bobi Cespedes and her fine band with special guest John Santos and a dazzling tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim by the renowned Brazilian vocalist Claudia Villela.  SF JAZZ has kicked off their Summer season and will be featuring the one and only Issac Delgado celebrating the release of his new recording “Lluvia Y Fuego” (Rain and Fire) at the SF Jazz Center from August 15 through the 18th.  Issac will be replacing Cubanisimo who had to cancel their US tour due to visa problems……Look out for Tony Vega to headline Festival De La Isla at Vacaville’s Pena Adobe Park on August 24th as well as Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band, Esperanza Spalding and Poncho Sanchez to be among the acts to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Concord Jazz Festival at the Concord Pavilion on Saturday, August 3rd!….And don’t forget to check out the First Annual Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Rowell Ranch, 9275 Dublin Canyon Road in Castro Valley from 11 am to 5 pm.  The festival will feature Willie Panama from Miami, Jose Luis Chapman “El Montuno” from NYC, Dave Bass Afro Cuban Jazz Quintet, Grammy Award winners Julius Melendez, Christian Pepin with special guest Carlos Rosario, The Latin Rhythm Boys, singer/songwriter Lisa Andrea Torres, legendary producer, composer and pianist Israel “Izzy” Tanenbaum, Rene Escovedo and Edgardo Cambon and Candela.  I will be the special guest DJ for the event from 1 pm through the afternoon.  So come check it out!!!  See you there!!!