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| Pucho Brown & the Latin
Soul Brothers |
By Arturo Riera
The Bay Area cultural scene holds more than great seafood, Alcatraz, and
a long span of a certain burnished orange bridge. It is also home to many of
the world's greatest jazz (The Fourth Way), funk (Tower of Power), and Latin
(Karl Perazzo,
to name but one) artists who've made history.
It is also home to the esteemed San Francisco North Beach Jazz Festival. This
year on July 30 the line up was stellar. And the headliners were LP all the
way.
Pucho
Brown and the Latin Soul Brothers closed the show with a flourish. In
a very real sense, the famed timbalero's performance harkened back to his
days at the famous Hideout Bar & Grill, a steamy Harlem venue, where,
as a young vocalist Pucho first witnessed Tito
Puente perform forty years ago. The effect was enough to convince Pucho
(who until then had gone under the name “Henry”) to put vocals
on the back burner and step up his timbale chops in honor of the master.
Pucho remained so inspired that, in the intervening years, he has released
twenty five albums as a bandleader. His latest CD, The Hideout, captures
the heat and intensity of those formative years and wraps them in a contemp-
orary mantle.
Pucho and his Soul Brothers had the crowd worked to a frenzy during a long
set that seemed to mount increasingly in energy-much in the manner of mentor
the late Tito Puente (LP’s ambassador to the world). While Pucho concentrated
on timbales, James
Brown alumnus Johnny Griggs kept things percolating on congas. Around them
on stage was a full complement of LP percussion, which served them well.
Incidentally, Pucho is one of only two African-Americans in the Latin Music
Hall of Fame. “I'm proud of that award,” he says, “and especially
sharing the honor with Dizzy Gillespie.” No question, Pucho brought the
funk to the North Beach Jazz Fest, spreading the vibe to other performers,
including San Diego's B Side Players and Yosvanni Terry (who is backed up by
LP artist Josh Jones on drums).
The winds blow cold over the bay, even on a summer night. But Pucho set the
breeze a sizzling. LP salutes his performance and his distinguished achievements!
Click to see
exclusive shots of the festival!
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