LIVE

John Santos & Friends

Lakeside Park, Edoff Memorial Bandstand

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Oakland’s John Santos is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. Santos was born in San Francisco and raised in the Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean traditions of his family, surrounded by music. An icon of the Bay Area music scene for the past five decades, the seven-time Grammy-nominated percussionist ─ who has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Bobby Hutcherson, Buena Vista Social Club, Regina Carter, Chester Thompson, Poncho Sanchez, Omar Sosa, Pete Escovedo, and Carlos Santana, among many others ─ is assembling a powerhouse group of Bay Area musicians for the July 27 Love Our Lake concert.

Long known for his exhilarating live performances, Santos will no doubt bring a soul-stirring show to Lake Merritt backed by an all-star lineup: Vocalist Destani Wolf who performed internationally as the ringmaster of the Cirque du Soleil show “Bazzar” which was built around her lustrous voice; improvisational and awe-inspiring jazz singer Kenny Washington; legendary Cuban multi-percussionist Orestes Vilató; pianist and trumpeter extraordinaire Marco Diaz; high-energy bassist Ernesto Mazar Kindelán; acclaimed saxophonist Charlie Gurke; Afro-Caribbean percussionist Javier Navarrette; internationally acclaimed percussionist Josh Jones and; Grammy-winner Bill Ortiz, trumpet player for Santana who has also toured with of Tony! Toni! Toné!, En Vogue, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, and Sheila E., among others.

Produced by Art + Soul Oakland