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The East Bay’s R&B and funk history, with its advancing mix of soul and high-energy rhythms interrupted by a horn section, set the stage for one of America’s premier big bands working today, Pete Escovedo and his Latin jazz ensemble.
An 87-year-old native of Pittsburgh, winner of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Escovedo – a percussion master who can seamlessly play Latin jazz, salsa, funk and R&B sounds – brings it all, Including his latest tune Saturday, 2021, “Rhythm of the Night,” recorded at the Fairfield Downtown Theater.
In addition to the timbales’ family patriarch, the orchestra includes his sons, Juan on conga drums, Peter Michael on drums, a four-piece horn section, a bassist, guitarist, keyboards and vocalist Leah Tysse.
“We still have the funk foundation of the Bay Area — Sly and The Family Stone, Santana, Tower of Power,” former Vallejo resident Peter Michael, 61, said in a phone interview Tuesday from his Los Angeles-area home.
Noting that “we’re originally from Auckland”, he said recent recordings of nine songs include covers of “Ain’t No Sunshine” (Al Green), “I’ll Be Around” (The Spinners), “The Glamorous Life” (by His sister Sheila E.).
“They’re all songs that we grew up with, soul and R&B,” said Peter Michael, who produced and arranged for the album. “We made Latin versions of them. They remind you of dancing.”
“At the same time, they are songs that everyone knows,” he added. “You can sing with them.”
The latest recording isn’t Escovedo’s first attempt to pay homage to soul and R&B tunes. In 2018, the family released Back at the Bay, which includes What You Won’t Do For Love (with Bobby Caldwell), Let’s Be Together (Al Green) and Don’t Worry, etc.) one thing” (Steve Wonder).
Peter Michael said Fairfield audiences can look forward to hearing these and other songs from the Escovedo record — 10 solo albums, two with Sheila E. Latina Familia” live album, the late American bandleader, known for his dance mambo and Latin jazz compositions during a 50-year career, and also the composer of “Oye Como Va” (Hey How’s It Up), in Santana was better known for the 1970 release of the “Abraxas” album.
For five years, the elder Escoviedo, who played at the White House during the Obama administration, broke down barriers between smooth jazz, salsa, funk and contemporary music and forged it as “Latin jazz,” says Peter Michael . “It’s a melting pot.”
“All of this makes sense,” he said, adding that “it’s the culture we come from, our upbringing and geography” history. His father was Mexican-American who grew up in Oakland, his mother was French Creole and Black, and his grandfather was an immigrant field worker turned plumber working at a Bay Area shipyard.
As with many musicians, the pandemic has limited the orchestra’s live performance schedule, but Peter Michael said he has been busy making music, TV shows and making music videos.
“I’m totally fine, but for this particular orchestra, we’re pretty much shut down,” he said.
But the reduced schedule appears to be lagging behind the orchestra, as the pandemic, while still present, is battling a growing number of vaccinated crowds, and as such, often heralds more live performances.
Listening to the Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra – and Latin music in general – is smiling, happy and eager to pat your feet, if not get up and dance.
“The music actually comes from the dance,” Peter Michael said. “Precisely a dance. The waltz is a dance. All these rhythms come from the dance. That’s how they coincide. They really are one. I don’t know which came first. Tango, mambo, merengue — These are dances and rhythms. Cuban and Puerto Rican sounds — both come from Africa. It’s about dance. It moves your body. You feel those rhythms inside of you. It’s almost like yours The heartbeat is the same.”
It makes sense that playing with family members can produce specific sounds, especially families of singers who, like the Beach Boys, the Wilsons, and other relatives, can effortlessly blend their voices. So, does the Escovedo family perform with a percussive “voice”?
“I would say we have rhythmic harmonies,” Peter Michael said. “I think it’s because we’re a family unit – because of the time you spend with each other.”
“Some bands live together,” he continued, citing The Beatles, Journey and Tower of Power. “Kool and the gang…they’ve been together all their lives, we’ve been doing that since we were kids. We all have our own separate careers. But when it comes to our dad’s acting, we’ll step in and help him.”
Peter Michael added: “It’s a gift and an honour for our dad to be on stage with him at the age of 87 – what a rarity.”
if you go
Peter Escoviedo and his Latin Jazz Ensemble, starring Juan and Peter Michael Escoviedo
Saturday 8pm
Downtown Theater
1035 Texas St., Fairfield
Tickets available on ftpresents.com:
$55 orchestra seating; $45 balcony (plus $5 facility fee)
*VIP ticket surcharge, $25, includes an artist meet-and-greet on stage at 7 p.m. and admission to a live painting for a signed copy of Escovedo’s latest CD, “Rhythm of the Night,” which is his autograph A copy book, and a very special set of Escovedo-branded LP bongo drums ($379 value)
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