John Santos and the Machete Ensemble w/special guests Ray Vega, María Márquez, Destani Wolf, Anthony Blea, Rebeca Mauleón, Bill Ortiz, Javier Navarrette, Mario Abruzzo, and Lakiba Pittman November 12, 2006

To close the 2006 season, San Francisco native John Santos leads his Machete Ensemble in their final concert. Composed of an elite cast of Bay Area musicians, the 21-year-old Machete Ensemble is at the vanguard of Latin Jazz, “[a] band that cuts both ways -- playing concert music that deserves cool attentive listening and churning out sizzling rhythms that urge the listeners to rise up out of their seats and writhe in sympathetic motion” (SF Bay Guardian). Bolstered here by renowned trumpeter Jerry Rey Vega, pianist Rebeca Mauleon, and Venezuelan singer María Márquez, this farewell performance promises a remarkable conclusion to this year’s Festival. Read Program Notes

Personnel:

* John Santos, director, congas, percussion, composer
* Orestes Vilató, timbales, bongos
* John Calloway, flute, composer/arranger
* Wayne Wallace, trombone, composer/arranger
* Melecio Magdaluyo, saxophone, clarinet, flute
* Ron Stallings, saxophone, clarinet
* David Belove, bass
* Paul Van Wageningen, drumset
* Murray Low, piano
* Orlando Torriente, vocals, percussion

Special guests:

* Ray Vega, trumpet, vocals
* María Márquez, vocal
* Destani Wolf
* Anthony Blea
* Rebeca Mauleon, piano
* Bill Ortiz
* Javier Navarrette
* Mario Abruzzo
* Lakiba Pittman

Official Website: http://www.sfjazz.org/concerts/2006/fall/artists/JohnSantos.asp