Hot on the heels of the release of his new album “Back to the Bay,” Pete Escovedo will perform his jazz hit at Fresno State and will lead a percussion seminar for students.
Presented by the United Negro College Fund Fresno Chapter, the Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Concert Hall in the Music Building (2355 E. Keats Ave.) on Saturday, Sept. 15. The evening begins with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $60 and are available online . Free parking will be available in lots P31 and P1 through the Shaw and Maple entrance to Fresno State.
On Friday, Sept. 14, Escovedo will lead a percussion seminar at 7 p.m. in the Fresno State Band Room. About 40 percussion students from Fresno State, Fresno City College and high schools around the Fresno and Clovis area will have the opportunity to work with Escovedo. While the seminar is closed to the public, members of the media are invited to attend.
Escovedo began his music career as a percussionist with his siblings in the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet. In 1967, Pete Escovedo and his brother Coke were hired by Carlos Santana for his Latin rock group. After three years of touring with Santana, the brothers founded the 14-piece Latin big band Azteca and recorded two albums with Columbia Records.
After Azteca broke up, Escovedo performed with numerous artists and frequently led Latin jazz bands under his name, recording nine solo albums and two albums with his daughter Sheila E. In 2013, Pete Escovedo released his first album in 10 years, “Live from Stern Grove Festival,” which included guest artists Ray Obiedo, Dave Koz and Arturo Sandoval. His latest album, “Back to the Bay,” released in May, showcases sounds of the mid-late 20th century that revives what is now known as the Bay Area sound.
The concert is sponsored by the Office of the President at Fresno State, Fresno State Black Faculty and Staff, California Advocate, Wells Fargo, Arte Americas, Valley Public Television, Jesse E. Cooley, Jr., Joe Lee, Fresno EOC, PG&E, Richard Keys, Walter Smith, M.D., Robert Mitchell, M.D., Shawn Tucker, M.D., Fresno Arts Council and Office of the Chancellor, State Center Community College District.
