John Calloway, Music Director; Arturo Riera, Managing Director; Sylvia Ramirez, Co-Director. The student musicians in the ensemble change from year-to-year. For a current list of musicians, see the Bio page on our website, ljye.com. If you like what you hear, please support our goal of keeping Latin jazz alive for the next generation of musicians by buying our CD from CD Baby.
Influences
Machete Ensemble, Cachao, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Eddie Palmieri, Los Van Van, NG la Banda, Isaac Delgado, Afro Cuba de Matanzas, Tiempo Libre, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Celia Cruz, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdes, John Coltrane, Yosvanny Terry, La Timba Loca, Charanga Habanera, Klimax, Andy Gonzales, Charanga Forever, Irakere, Mezcla, Fania All-Stars, Charlie Palmieri, Dave Valentin and many others!
The LJYE performance at the world-famous jazz club, Yoshi's in Oakland, California was recorded on July 19, 2005. The CD presents all-original compositions performed "live" as well as selected studio tracks. The CD received glowing reviews in Latin Beat Magazine and on CD Baby.com. Personnel on the recording:
Josue Caravantes - percussion;
Henry Corrigan-Gibbs - bass;
Darcell Epps – drum set on tracks 1, 2, 6, 7;
Charles Ferguson – drum set on tracks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8;
Max Miller-Loran - trumpet;
Samora Pinderhughes – piano on tracks 2, 5, 7, 8;
Daniel Riera - flute;
Erik Stern - timbales;
Hans Stern – piano on tracks 1, 3, 4, 6;
Oscar Thadeo – alto sax;
Jonah Varon – congas.
The Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco is a performing group of talented student musicians ages ten to 18. The group entered the Bay Area music scene on September 15th, 2001, at “A Tribute to Cal Tjader,” a concert held at San Francisco's Masonic Auditorium. The ensemble opened the program for the Grammy Award winning Poncho Sanchez band and later jammed with Sanchez and other legendary performers. In spite of being only four days after the national tragedy of September 11th, the show went on, and concert goers in need of emotional relief enthusiastically embraced the group.
They have played a number of high profile gigs around the Bay Area. In 2004 the LJYE opened for Cuban bass legend Israel "Cachao" Lopez in San Francisco. In April 2005 they opened for the Grammy winning Salsa band Spanish Harlem Orchestra and in October 2005 opened for Grammy nominated "Yerba Buena" at the San Francisco Latin Jazz Festival. The LJYE has played several times at the San Jose Jazz Festival and San Francisco's Carnaval Parade and Festival. In August 2007 they opened the pre-game show for the San Francisco Giants with special guest, the great Cuban pianist, Chuchito Valdes.
The group has continued to develop not only as an ensemble but also as a performing arts organization. In 2006 they were designated as Artists in Residence at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival where they perform frequently. That fall, the LJYE Workshop was created to provide intermediate players an opportunity to learn advanced performance techniques and to provide an entry point into the performing ensemble.
Music Director John Calloway is an internationally renown virtuoso flutist, composer, arranger and educator. Co-director is Sylvia Ramirez and managing director is Arturo Riera. For more information contact info@ljye.com.
hola muchachos!! muchas gracias por aceptar,es tremenda su música! pasen a escuchar algo por mi space a ver que les parece su pueden,abrazo grande desde bs. as argentina!!
Its always exciting to hear & see the youth of today participating in the best art form. Congratulations to all and look forward to playing the LJYE on the JXC show in 2009. Cheers Helen
The LJYE is an outstanding collective of talent. I first saw the LJYE in 2004 opening for Cachao's all-star band in San Francisco, and that was a memorable show. I look forward to seeing this ensemble again. All the best for 2009! — Matt Gallagher (trap drums, Calle 49)
Hey guys! Thanks a million for accepting my add! Hearing such young, talented and vibrant musicians such as yourselves is an inspiration and a true pleasure!
You guys sound great; wonderful to hear Bay Area young people playing this music so well. I'm sure that Calloway is a good leader; fantastic musician and great guy. Stop by and check out The Latin Jazz Corner blog - lots of info on the music you love. Get in touch with me, I'd love to do a feature on the group! Hope to hear from you soon.
thanks for your support. and regarding pride, THANK YOU! it was actually very surprising how touching it was to see you all there. i think flying all that way and not having my family there, it was beautiful to have loved ones there. i was so scared!
Hey Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, thanks so much for all your support! Check out our new Tune Your World campaign in support of African Musicians. www.tuneyourworld.com
Hey there! This is Gerson just dropping by to say what's up? Hope all is well and that your music continues to grow and that it reaches more audiences! Un abrazo!
Hey brothers! Wassup???? Sabor!!! That's one of my all time favorites! Hope you guys are all doing well.Lotsa love from the "East Los Angeles College Latin Jazz Band". Are you guys performing at the Reno jazz fest? If you do, I hope to meet you guys there!
