San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 announces today the return of its beloved Latin and Salsa music programming to be featured on the CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage (free admission) on South First Street in downtown San Jose on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, 2021.
With over 45 acts across six stages, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 (Aug. 13 – 15, 2021) brings live music back with an artist lineup just as riveting as ever before for one of the summer’s first major San Francisco Bay Area outdoor music festivals. While the Sobrato Organization Main Stage in Plaza de César Chavez Park features such sensations as Common, Morris Day and The Time, Ozomatli, Goapele, and many others, the CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage will take flight on one of the city’s hippest corners along South First Street.
CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage is among the pillars of San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 with Latin and salsa music lovers traveling to downtown San Jose from the far stretches of the country for a chance to dance to incredible acts from the West Coast performing timba, son, mambo, and Jíbaro. For San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021, Arcos presents an array of the finest California acts performing today: Septeto Los Amigos, Latin Rhythm Boys, Cabanijazz Project, Las Chikas, Sitara Son, Rumbankete, and Alberto Gonzalez and Orquesta Salsa Caliente.
The CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage serves as a free community stage with seven Latin and salsa performances open to the general public with no admission charge.
CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage – Highlights of Artists
Septeto Los Amigos (Saturday, Aug 14, 3:45pm)
A group of veteran musicians from the South Bay Area, Septeto Los Amigos share an affinity for Cuban rhythms and dance music. Septeto Los Amigos’ sound is Bolero, Cha Cha Cha, Cuban Son, Salsa, with a little bit of Cumbia and Merengue thrown in. Septeto Los Amigos features alumni and/or current members of Cuatro con Tres, SF Mime Troupe, Dr. Loco, Teatro Campesino, Rudy and the Cruisers, Orquesta Saboricua, and Orquesta Latin Heat.
Latin Rhythm Boys Orchestra (Saturday, Aug 14, 5:45pm)
In 1963, Jr. Henry Miranda’s plan came to fruition. A lifelong ‘Cuatro’ player (Puerto Rico’s national instrument, a 10-string lead guitar), he brought his amazing music from Hawaii to California where he formed the group “Jr. Miranda and His Latin Rhythm Boys.” He inspired and mentored many, leaving behind a musical legacy for his sons Earl R. Miranda and Henry Miranda Jr to continue with their own powerhouse of Puerto Rican and Jíbaro music ensemble, Latin Rhythm Boys Orchestra.
With two successful album launches under their belt, Musica De Mis Padres (2005) and Year of The Cuatro (2013), the Latin Rhythm Boys Orchestra released their latest album CELEBRANDO – 60 Years Est. (2018), featuring multiple award-winning special guests such as GRAMMY Award-winner the late Johnny Polanco on trombone and tres, Artie Webb on flute, vocals by 8-time GRAMMY Award-nominee and 3-times GRAMMY Award-winner Willy Torres, as well as other Latin music luminaries like Chino Nuñez, Jimmy Bosch, among others.
Alberto Gonzalez and Orquesta Salsa Caliente (Saturday, Aug 14, 8:00pm)
With over 25 years of experience on the music and salsa scene, Alberto Gonzalez has been able to put together an amazing group of all-star musicians. Born and raised in the city of Chicago, Gonzalez has had the opportunity to share his musical gift around the world. Gonzalez is heavily influenced by the music of his native Puerto Rico and by such artists as Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, El Gran Combo, La Sonora Ponceña, Bobby Valentin, and others. For an authentic tropical and hard-hitting salsa sound, you’ll have to look no further than Orquesta Salsa Caliente.
Rumbankete (Saturday, Aug 14, 9:45pm)
Los Angeles’ premier timba group returns to SJZ Latin Tropical Stage to perform an eclectic mix of modern dance music and salsa tunes with a Cuban flavor. Emerging in Cuba in the late ’80s and early ’90s, timba was formed as a confluence of funk, jazz, improvisation, and musical styles such as rumba. The two primary singers/composers of Rumbankete, Iris Cepeda and Chalo Chomat, grew up in Havana during the heyday of timba. Along with eight incredible musicians, Rumbankete’s 10-piece ensemble makes it impossible to stop dancing once the music starts.
Sitara Son (Sunday, Aug 15, 3:30pm)
In the ancient Sanskrit language, the word “sitara” means star, also describing something bright, fresh, and new. Sitara Son brings a bright new concept to the Cuban style of son. Based in Los Angeles, Sitara Son plays a variety of Cuban dance music with influences from Afro-Cuban Folklore. Sitara Son features legendary singer/drummer Lázaro Galarraga who began touring the world as a young man singing, dancing and drumming for the distinguished group Conjunto Folkórico Nacional de Cuba. Lázaro Galarraga has received multiple GRAMMYs and has performed at the 1996 Atlantic City Olympics, the Latin GRAMMYs, and the White House. He is a true treasure in his community and continues to share and create music with his group Sitara Son.
Cabanijazz Project (Sunday, Aug 15, 5:30pm)
The dynamic Mexican conga player Javier Cabanillas has come a long way since he started performing in pop-up flea markets in the streets of Tijuana. A few years ago, the Bay Area resident walked the red carpet in Los Angeles and took home a GRAMMY Award for his work with San Francisco-based Pacific Mambo Orchestra. After that triumphant experience, he decided to concentrate on writing and arranging for his Cabanijazz Project, which has been creating a unique sound called “New Cali-Mambo & Retro Salsa.” This seven-piece band brings to their shows many of the region’s top Latin music artists, featuring on occasion, Omar Ledezma Jr.
Las Chikas (Sunday, Aug 15, 7:30pm)
The all-women band Las Chikas is comprised of some of the most talented female musicians in Los Angeles. Salsa never looked so good in the City of Angels, a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities come together to give birth to a multicultural women band that sets the stage on fire! Las Chikas has performed in several southern California cities and special events, including LA Dodgers games, Los Angeles Latin Jazz Music Festival, and LACMA.
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 – Music Stages, Hotels & Tickets
Sobrato Organization Main Stage and Adobe Fountain Blues Stage will be located at the epicenter of SJZ Summer Fest 2021 in Plaza de César Chavez Park with additional shows presented on the CEFCU Latin Tropical Stage, Montgomery Theater Stage, Silicon Valley Community Foundation Hammer Theatre Stage, CEFCU Salsa Stage, and Miro Break Room Stage. Additional local curatorial and performance partners include Mosaic America, Bloco do Sol, Jazz Organ Fellowship, and Universal Grammar. A Jazz Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph will take place on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, 2021.
San Jose Jazz partners with Visit San Jose and hotel concierges to feature sets by live jazz bands in lobbies across downtown from August 13 – 15. Book rooms now to get cheap rates ranging from $109 – $199 at hotels on or near the Fest grounds including at Westin San Jose (Sainte Claire), San Jose Marriott, Hilton San Jose, Hotel De Anza, AC by Marriott San Jose, Hotel Clariana, DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose, SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Jose Airport, and Hyatt Place San Jose. For information on hotel deals, please visit: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/festival-info/hotel-deals
General Admission, Priority Access, and VIP tickets range from $35 – $190/Day; and $105 – $470/3-Day Passes. To purchase tickets, please visit: summerfest.sanjosejazz.org
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2021 – Artist Lineup
Common, Morris Day and The Time, Goapele, Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra, Superblue: Kurt Elling Featuring Charlie Hunter, Judith Hill, Ozomatli, The Motet, Butcher Brown, James Francies, Kandace Springs, Christian Sands, Helen Sung Quartet, Jamie Baum Septet+, Sarah McKenzie, Jazz Organ Fellowship Tribute to Doug Carn, New West Guitar Trio with Leah Zeger, Mimi Fox B3 Trio, SJZ Collective, Tony Lindsay Ray Charles Project, Claudia Villela and Roberto Lumbambo, The Futurelics, Idiot Fish, George Brooks & Arjun Verma, Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs, Sons of the Soul Revivers, Chris Cain Band, Junior Watson Band, Sonny Green & Tia Carroll w/ The Greaseland Allstars, Gary Smith & The House Rockers, Septeto Los Amigos, Latin Rhythm Boys, Cabanijazz Project, Las Chikas, Sitara Son, Rumbankete, Alberto Gonzalez and Orquesta Salsa Caliente, Delgado Brothers, 7th Street Big Band, Bloco do Sol, and others.