******
Friday February 17
Mo'Fone
Artist Website

"A MINIMAL BUT MIGHTY ROMP!" -EAST BAY EXPRESS

With its surprising and highly combustible line-up of two saxmen and one drummer, the Bay Area-based group Mo'Fone has thrilled audiences with some of the funkiest jazz-and jazziest funk-being played today. Powering its way through inventive high-energy original compositions and navigating unexpected tunes by the likes of Weather Report, John Scofield, and Led Zeppelin, Mo'Fone makes a huge sound that belies its compact size.

JEREMY STEINKOLER, DRUMS AND PERCUSSION, JIM PETERSON, SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS, FLUTE, LARRY DE LA CRUZ, SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS, FLUTE, PERCUSSION

******
Saturday February 18
Steve Carter Group
Artist Website

High-energy jazz with a healthy dose of East Bay funk. Pianist Steve Carter, bassist Dennis Smith and drummer Tommie Bradford have played with George Benson, Michael Franti and Spearhead, The Jerry Garcia Band, The Freaky Executives, Bobby Womac and many more. Their latest CD Cosmopolis received top 10 CD of the year honors in All About Jazz.

Musician Lineup: Steve Carter - Piano, Dennis Smith - Bass , Tommie Bradford - Drums

******
Sunday Feburary 19
Sam-One Music ~ Soul and Blues and R&B
Artist Website

Sam-One is a Blues Guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He began playing the guitar at the age of eight years old. He also is a vocalist, songwriter, composer and producer. His CD titled (You Ain't Right) puts Sam-One up there among the best. His unique style is what made Sam-One stand out as a respected artist of today. Listen to the way he hit those Blues Licks that make you sit up and take notice. Sam-One is destined to be one of the premier Blues Artist around. Although he only has one CD on the market Sam-One is a seasoned musician who has played with the best and held his own. There is more to come from Sam-One who is currently becoming a household name in the music industry. His skill as an arranger is evident on his CD. The way he put together his CD the man knows his business. Sam-One is an artist you need to follow. To purchase his CD go to CD Baby.com. You will not be disappointed.

******
Friday February 24
Miguelito Martinez & Corazon Sur Quartet
Artist Website

"Del Corazon al Son" Corazón Sur's director, Miguel Martínez(Mexico), has brought together the innovative sounds of Latin jazz and traditional Cuban and Mexican son with the distinctive jarocho style of Veracruz, and formed a collaboration with some of the best musicians in the Bay Area - Carlos Caro (Cuba), Saul Sierra (Mexico), Marco Diaz (USA) - to produce an evening filled with original compositions and musical arrangements that promise to create a coastal ambiance, inspired by the scents and breezes of the Caribbean.

"The flute and percussions of CORAZÓN SUR create a costal ambiance, impregnated by scents and breezes of the Caribbean; the scents of the ocean, of fruit, and of humid earth. CORAZÓN SUR promotes and creates awareness about the musical richness and diversity of Mexico, widening the narrow view that the world has of Latin America."

******
Saturday February 25
Javier Navarrette Trio

For over 25 years, Javier Navarrette has dedicated himself to the study and performance of music, specializing in Afro Caribbean rhythms. Javier has studied with masters in Cuba such as Miguel Angá Díaz, Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana, Folklorico Nacional de Cuba and Bay Area masters John Santos, Michael Spiro and Jesús Díaz. He has had the opportunity to play with such greats as Poncho Sanchez, Los Van Van, and the "Conga Kings": Francisco Aguabella, Carlos "Patáto" Valdez, Armondo Peraza and Milton Cardona, as well as with Jon Faddis, Nestor Torres, and Bobi Cespedes. In addition, Javier has had the privillege of recording with world renowned artists Giovanni Hidalgo, Anthony Carillo, Sandy Perez, Jimmy Bosch, José Fajardo, Orestes Vilató, Carlos Del Puerto, Dafnis Prieto, Pedro Martinez and Andy Gonzalez. Currently, Javier is a percussionist with Jesús Díaz y su QBA, Anthony Blea y Su Charanga, Carne Cruda, La Mission Band, Hector Lugo and La Mixta Criolla, The Cuban Cow Boys and Los Mocosos-groups who play locally, nationally, and internationally. He is currently working on a new project, Machina Sol, with three other Bay Area artists to create new musical ideas. Javier recorded on 3 Grammy nominated albums with John Santos and the Machete Ensemble/ Folklorico Kindembo and continues to create and teach music in the San Francisco Bay Area.

******
Sunday February 26
Rafael Ramirez & The Alta All-Stars

Alta Music founder, native San Franciscan and one of the 'Voices of Latin Rock', Rafael Ramirez was raised in the heart of the San Francisco's Mission District. Starting his Latin percussion tutelage at age 12 he learned the basics of Afro-Cuban drumming, Jazz and Samba. It was in the '60s as a member of The Guadalupe Native Sons of Golden West Mixed Drum Corps that Rafael learned 'sticking' while playing Tenor and Snare drums. While at San Francisco State University in 1974 he studied with master Nigerian percussionist Kwaku Daddy.

A 1988 Latin Percussion endorsee, voting member of NARAS and LARAS the Voices of Latin Rock legend has recorded and performed with numerous Producers and Artists, e.g. Taj Mahal, American Idol's Randy Jackson, Pete Escovedo, John Santos, Orestes Vilato, Jorge Santana, John Handy, Michael 'Narada' Walden, Mickey Hart, Richie Havens, Malo's Richard Bean, Tower of Power's Mic Gillette, Ray Obeido, Bill Greene,and Ray Vega.

Over the last 3 decades Rafael's been involved in a variety of recording and performance projects with groups including: Abel Sanchez's The Frisco Project, Safari Ensemble, Fazz, Orchestra Actualidad, Sol, Bandido, The Carmen 'Milagro' Band to name a few.

Currently on conga and vocals Mr. Ramirez leads the ensemble the Alta Allstars ~ A Spicy, Salsa Latin grooves.

Rafael Ramirez, Leader/Conguero/Vocals
Calito Franco, Bassist/Lead Singer
Gary Flores, Piano/Vocals
Jorge Aguilar, Bongocero y Campana
Ruben Salcido, Sax and Flute
Andres Soto, Sax and Flute
Ronnnie Mesina, Timbales
Miguel Fernandez, Drums



******
March Calendar

Fri Mar 2 - Adelante Latin Jazz Ensemble

Sat Mar 3 - Los Townfolk - Website

Sun Mar 4 - Jaz Sawyer Trio - Website


Fri Mar 9 - Adrian Areas Latin Jazz Ensemble - Website

Sat Mar 10 - Q Morrow Ensemble - Website

Sun Mar 11 - Orquesta la Venticuatro - Website


Fri Mar 16 - Ray Obiedo and Mambo Caribe - Website

Sat Mar 17 -

Sun Mar 18 - Avotcja and Modupue - Website


Fri Mar 23 - GG Amos Blues Band - Website

Sat Mar 24 - Blind Willies - Website

Sun Mar 25 - Brian Andres & The Afro Cuban Jazz Quintet - website