Festival crowd at the Arena Stage.

The Bay Area heat wave continued along the coast to usher in the 45^th Monterey Jazz Festival. A laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of food and drink, even shopping are abound at the festival grounds. You will meet folks who have been year after year and lots of newcomers of all ages.

Caught in the current political climate, the Latin Millennium ensemble from the National School for the Arts in Havana, Cuba did not make their scheduled appearance. Under the direction of Joaquin Pozo, grand-nephew of Chano Pozo, the ensemble's appearance was antcipated by student groups and festival participants alike. We will all keep our fingers crossed for a visit from the group at next year's festival.

Saturday evening in the festival's Night Club, MC Jesse ‘Chuy’ Varela introduced the 'Tribute to Bay Area Percussionists' with honorees Orestes Vilató, John Santos and Michael Spiro. As Varela pointed out, this recognition was not only for their superior musicianship bur for their efforts in keeping Bay Area music vibrant and passing along the history and love of the music to new generations of music ethusiasasts and students.

The three were joined during the panel discussion by all-time great Milton Cardona, percussionist, singer and arranger, at the festival to accompany Don Byron, and Johnny Alamendra, founder and director of Los Jovenes del Barrio in New York, also a guest for a performance with Don Byron.

L to R: Milton Cardona, Johnny Alemendra, Orestes Vilató, John Santos, Michael Spiro

The accolades they paid to one another, for their mentoring and encouragement was wonderful to watch. Vilato, Spiro, and Santos were all presented hand-made awards by the Festival Board of Directors and were quite astounded to have the honor bestowed upon them in general.

The music portion of the tribute opened with Orestes Vilató’s group, Quarteto Caribe. Featured on piano was Cuban-born artist, Elio Villa Franka. Residing in Philadelphia, his adept accompaniment and stirring solos had all pleading for more. Orestes, true to form, was both suave and intense in his playing and solos. John Santos on congas and David Belove on bass rounded out the quartet with solid accompaniment.

Michael Spiros group, Ará Meji, opened each piece with chants to Santeria deities on vocals and chekeres. Each tune moved into a Latin jazz or salsa piece as Spiro connected the dots sort to speak, between the traditional tunes and their more modern offshoots.

Elio Villa Franka on piano with Quarteto Caribe

The tribute was completed with Santos and Machete taking the stage. With arrangements by flautists and pianist John Calloway and trombonist Wayne Wallace, Machete had the crowd calling for more as they wove their way in both original tunes with new arrangements as well as original pieces.

At various times, audience members could sit no more and were on the floor dancing to the assortment of music presented during the evening. Kudos to the Festival board for acknowledging the honorees and for adding this tribute to the festival lineup. We look forward to next year's festival and an all new tribute to those who have kept the Latin influences in Jazz alive and vibrant in the Bay Area.

View a few other photos from the Festival:

Blues great Etta James

Marcia Ball tappin' those keys.

Lavay Smith

Review and photos ©2002 by Julia Sewell
No reproduction of any kind without permission.
All rights reserved.

 

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