Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco: Reviews

(Regarding the CD, "LJYE Live at Yoshi's")
"From the first bars of the opening track...you know you are in for a special treat of succulent Latin jazz...Dramatic arrangements and phenomenal improvisations prevail throughout this recording."

(English translation follows)
"Este grupo puede tocar en cualquier club de jazz mundial. Me gustaron sus arreglos originales y su balance harmónico y la percusión sigue la marcha bien. La flauta tiene un concepto harmónico muy avanzado. Este grupo me impresiono mucho musicalmente y por su juventud."

"This group can play in any jazz club in the world. I enjoyed their original compositions and their harmonic balance and the good time kept by the rhythm section. The flute player shows advanced harmonic concepts. This group impressed me very much with their musicality and their youth."

Armando Peraza - Latin Music Legend (Jan 20, 2006)

(Scroll down for complete article)
"...an incubator for the future of Afro-Caribbean jazz and popular music in the SF Bay."

"We saw these guys at the San Jose Jazz Festival in 2004 and were very impressed-the most entertaining group we saw there! They are great! We remain impressed with the tight quality that the band exhibits. Keep the good stuff coming.....we'd love to hear some more of your upbeat Latino selections!!

"A pleasure to listen to even without being impressed by the young age of the musicians. The music provides such a pleasureable and joyful listening experience that it made me even more astonished at what these relatively young musicians have accomplished. The music reflects a technical profiency and soulful maturity that belies the ages of the performers."

GENERATION NOW. A wave of young musicians is splashing onto the SF Bay Area enriching the Latin music diaspora. In this edition of Desde La Bahia we profile instrumentalists, singers and bandleaders, from teens to young adults, who are contributing their energies to the future of this music.

THE LATIN JAZZ YOUTH ENSEMBLE OF SAN FRANCISCO. Ranging in ages from 10 to 18, the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of SF is directed by musician/composer/arranger John Calloway. Working with Arturo and Sylvia Riera (whose son Daniel plays flute in the band) they maintain a self-sustaining performance group whose mission is to motivate young people to play Latin jazz and act as role models for young musicians. In late May of 2004, Carnaval San Francisco selected them as the Best Youth Music Group in the annual parade. August found them swinging at the San José Jazz Festival. In October, they performed at the San Francisco Latín Jazz Festival at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Playing a repertoire of Latin jazz, salsa and Cuban music, their cohesion as an ensemble is impressive, a credit to Calloway's teaching and direction. A perfect example is Paquito D'Rivera's Chucho. Like old pros, they take the piece at an uptempo pace and stretch it out with potent solos and tight execution on the Irakere-style ensemble parts.

Pianist Samora Pinderhughes is a treat to listen to. Hearing him riff with technical ease and melodic facility leaves you breathless. Quoting tunes like Maria Cervantes in his solos demonstrates the depth and promise this young teen has.

Many exceptional young musicians have now gone through the band. Kyle Athayde, who plays trumpet, vibes and drums, is a present member of the National Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble and a three-time Down Beat winner in their Student Music Awards for Outstanding Soloist. Their debut performance at the Cal Tjader Tribute at the Masonic Auditorium in SF, on Sept. 15, 2001, is still one of their best shows. That original band consisted of Daniel Riera (flute), Elizabeth Dorman (bass), Eric Méndez (drums/congas), Hans Stern (piano), Erik Stern (timbal), Kyle Athayde (trumpet), Sam Ferguson (vibes) and Samora Pinderhughes (piano).

John Calloway is renowned for his musical abilities as a flutist and pianist. He writes and arranges excellent music for John Santos & The Machete Ensemble and others, but it's his gift as an educator that will be his lasting contribution. A music educator in the San Francisco Unified District, and now teaching at SF State University, he has groomed this group into an incubator for the future of Afro-Caribbean jazz and popular music in the SF Bay. The Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco allows young musicians to experience Latin jazz and salsa at a professional level. It's non-profit and fun. Much love and gratitude to Calloway, the Rieras and the rest of the parents of these neophyte performers.