Since our inception in 1985, we've been fortunate to find open arms and warm welcomes in places as diverse as Wisconsin, Havana, New York, Vermont, and California. Through the music, we attempt to express our gratitude to our audiences and to honor the pioneers and traditions of honest, creative music anchored by improvisation. These traditions and pioneers have honed a fraternal legacy of musicians, composers, poets, dancers, teachers, students, presenters, programmers, patrons, fans, and other appreciators. Your link in this chain is of the utmost importance.
Brazos Abiertos is a celebration of the diverse artistry, the deep respect, the quest for justice, the love, and the adventurous spirit created, developed, and left for us by our forebears. In acknowledging their gift, the difficulties of maintaining a 10-piece Latin band not withstanding, we accept the responsibility to uphold the music's integrity, and its message of unity. Our premise of presenting both danceable and not-necessarily danceable compositions and arrangements is also a way of honoring the multi-faceted legacy of Afro-Caribbean-based Jazz.
We recognize the timeless contributions of so many unknown artists, the majority of whom were never considered to be artists, even by themselves. Their organic work carries a certain magic, and opens both the mind and the soul. We also wish much light and peace to all the maestros, young and old, whose paths we were fortunate enough to cross, who have recently passed, such as: Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaría, Oscar Valdés Sr., Compay Segundo, Chichito Cepeda, Ricardo Cané, Polo Montañéz, Juancito Torres, Don Félix Alduén, Delia Martinez, and Malonga Casquelord. They will always be remembered as royalty in our hearts.
And let us not forget the spirituality of the music. Whether in the context of ritual, meditation, or simply to uplift the joy that often gets lost deep within ourselves, music heals. We frequently purport to teach music, but it is the music that teaches. We have but to listen . . . to feel . . . to dream.
john santos
Oakland, CA July 2003
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." Steve Biko
BIOGRAPHy
JOHN SANTOS is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. He is known for his innovative use of traditional forms and instruments in combination with contemporary music, and has earned much respect and recognition as a record and event producer. He has performed, recorded and studied with acknowledged masters of the Afro-Latin and Jazz idioms such as Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Lazaro Ros, Armando Peraza, Eddie Palmieri, Patato Valdés, Francisco Aguabella, Orestes Vilató, Rene López, Max Roach, Batacumbele, Steve Turre and Chocolate Armenteros.
This experience has provided a solid foundation for Mr. Santos' current ground-breaking work in bringing together styles, rhythms, concepts and artists from different generations.
Born in San Francisco, California, November l, l955, he was raised in the Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean traditions of his family, surrounded by music. The fertile musical environment of the San Francisco Bay Area shaped his career in a unique way. His studies of Afro-Latin music have included several trips to New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil and Colombia.
Mr. Santos is widely respected as one of the top writers, teachers and historians in the field and is currently a member of the Latin Jazz Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian Institution. He has conducted lectures, workshops and clinics in the Americas and Europe since 1972. He has contributed to the international magazines Percussive Notes, Modern Drummer, Modern Percussionist, and Latin Percussionist. The San Francisco Bay Area community in which he still lives and works has presented him with numerous awards and honors for artistic excellence and social dedication.
Mr. Santos is also a distinguished and creative multi-percussionist and recording artist. His diverse credits (in addition to those listed above) include: Bobby Hutcherson, Grupo Mezcla (Havana, Cuba), Lalo Schifrin, Irakere West, Santana, Yma Sumac, Linda Tillery, Cal Tjader, Danilo Perez, Ignacio Berroa, Omar Sosa, Jon Jang and Charlie Hunter. He was the director of the Orquesta Tipica Cienfuegos (l976-1980) and the Orquesta Batachanga (1981-1985). Mr. Santos currently directs the Machete Ensemble, a world-class Latin Jazz band of international renown since 1985. Their CD, SF Bay, is a 2003 GRAMMY nominee.
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