Chuy Varela presents A Tribute to Francisco Aguabella July 7, 2010

A Tribute to the Master Conguero- dance floor will be open!

On May 7, 2010, Conga master Francisco Aguabella passed away at the age of 84.Part of the first wave of Cuban jazz percussionists who followed Chano Pozo, Aguabella left Cuba in the 1950s to join the dance troupe of the legendary Katherine Dunham. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he was initiated into the Santeria religion as a child and one of the first sworn Bata drum players in the United States. His arrival in New York City with Dunham brought him in contact with Tito Puente who recorded two of his songs -"Complicacion" and "Agua Limpia Todo" - on his landmark, Dancemania, album for RCA. Married to a dancer with the Dunham Troupe, he settled in Oakland where for decades he made his home base. He recorded for Fantasy Records as a leader but got a steady gig playing in the band of Peggy Lee, one of the biggest jazz stars of the 1950s and 60s. Gigs with Frank Sinatra, Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria,Dizzy Gillespie and many others elevated his stature as a top notch musician.

In the early 1970s, he joined the band Malo and would tour the US on the heels of the Latin Rock Boom emanating from the SF Bay. He would later play with Santana but into the 1970s he settled in as the Conga drummer for Cesar's Latin All Stars. He performed with Cesar Ascarrunz's ensemble for 22 years at his famed Cesar's Latin Palace in San Francisco. He is the subject of a great Les Blank documentary, Sworn To The Drum. Into the 1990s he left the Bay Area for Los Angeles where he enjoyed success as a bandleader.
July 7 friends and fans of Francisco Aguabella will gather to honor his spirit and contributions to the SF Bay Latin music scene. Performing will be the Jesus Diaz Afro-Cuban Folkoric Ensemble with special guest Bobi Cespedes and Cesar's Latin All Stars with special guests. Emcee: Jesse "Chuy" Varela.

Official Website: http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub/artist/show/1348