October 2, 2002
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu
BREAKING NEWS
Horn player Jerry González and conga player Giovanni Hidalgo added to The Calle 54 Concert at UCSB Campbell Hall
Summary Facts:
- Jerry González and Giovanni Hidalgo added to The Calle 54 Concert
- Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés is no longer part of the tour
- Still on the bill: Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias and Spanish flamenco-jazz fusion pianist Chano Dominguez
- Wednesday, October 9 / 8 pm
- UCSB Campbell Hall
- General: $40/$35, UCSB students: $19/$16
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535
Two exciting Latin jazz stars—horn player Jerry González and conga master Giovanni Hidalgo—have been added to The Calle 54 Concert coming to UCSB Campbell Hall on Wednesday, October 9 at 8 pm. Unfortunately, pianist Bebo Valdés will no longer be part of the concert, because of a change in the procedural policy on FBI security clearances put into place as part of the Homeland Security Act. Still part of the bill are Eliane Elias and Chano Dominguez on piano, Pablo Martin and Marc Johnson on bass, Guillermo McGill on drums, and the flamenco trio of percussionist Israel Suárez, singer Blas Córdoba and dancer Tomás Moreno.
Bronx native Jerry González began playing trumpet while in junior high, and soon also turned his attention to the congas. Having worked professionally with his brother, bassist Andy González, and other musicians, he unexpectedly got a call from Dizzy Gillespie when he was just 21 years old. González went on to work with Tony Williams, Eddie Palmieri, George Benson, McCoy Tyner and Tito Puente, among others. In 1980 he and his brother formed the Fort Apache Band, one of the first great Latin jazz combos in the United States. The group has received Grammy nominations, won Down Beat Readers’ Polls, and its album Rumba Para Monk was named Jazz Record of the Year by the French Academie du Jazz in 1988. About his performance in the movie Calle 54, Rolling Stone wrote, “[with] Jerry González on fluegelhorn and congas, the sound is pure, resonant and transporting. Sexy, too.”
Puerto Rican native Giovanni Hildago is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest congueros. An unrivaled performer whose skill and technique is admired by percussionists around the world, Giovanni combines the flavors of Latin and jazz music with his own unique style. Giovanni has performed with the likes of Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito d’Rivera, Zakir Hussain and Carlos Santana. He has also traveled all over the world with Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie and Planet Drum, a percussion ensemble led by former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. In 1992, he recorded his debut solo LP, Villa Hidalgo; in 1997 he collaborated with pianist Michel Camilo for Hands of Rhythm, which earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Album category. Hidalgo’s Greatest Hits collection followed the next year. His latest release is Jazz Descargas (2001), recorded with the Conga Kings. The Associated Press writes, “Giovanni Hidalgo is probably the best conga player in the world...[His] trademark use of the congas to beat out melodies never ceases to astound...when Hidalgo gets into his groove, there’s no overshadowing him.”
The Calle 54 Concert is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by K-LITE 101.7 FM and the Daily Nexus. It is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Tickets are $40 and $35 for the general public and $19 and $16 for UCSB students (limited availability).
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.