One of the most important and revered figures in the world of percussion, Armando Peraza continues to inspire and influence percussionists of all genres and ages around the world. This tribute concert, sponsored by LP Percussion, features many of today's top percussionists who cite Armando as one of their biggest influences, including Giovanni Hidalgo, John Santos, Michael Spiro, Karl Perazzo, Edgardo Cambón, Carol Steele along with "Fito" Reinoso, Iluminado "Yaya" Maldonado, José Luís Gomez, Javier Navarrette and special guests! In honor of Armando, who will be present at the tribute, several styles of Afro-Cuban folkloric music will be presented including Bembé, Batá, Güiro, Iyesá, Abakuá, Yambú, Guaguancó, Columbia, Guarapachangueo, and Conga de Comparsa.

Please Note: The Bay Bridge will be CLOSED in both directions Labor Day Weekend. Please plan on using alternate transportation. The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is a short walk from both the Powell and Montgomery Streets BART/MUNI stations. Visit www.baybridgeinfo.org for more information.

Armando Peraza and Giovanni Hidalgo ; © photos by Latin Percussion


A Tribute to Armando Peraza will feature performances by:

A legendary master on both congas and bongo, whose unorthodox style and rich history has inspired countless younger musicians the world over. Armando Peraza is one of the original trailblazers who brought to us this gift of this deeply traditional yet extremely improvisational Afro-Cuban art form. Upon arriving in New York City in 1949, Armando was an instantly sought after musician, especially in the contemporary Bebop and Latin Jazz scene. He proceeded to build upon a reputation of amazingly fast, complicated handwork, experimental techniques and a flair for showmanship. He thrived in progressive settings that combined Jazz and Afro-Cuban idioms and was at the vortex of a new musical expression named “Cubop”. He has performed on more than 100 recordings and is the songwriter of more than 40 songs. Although Armando has played with countless Latin, Jazz and Rock musicians, his association with George Shearing (12 years), Cal Tjader (6 years) and Carlos Santana (18 years) were his most prolific. During his long and legendary career, which has spanned more than 65 years, Armando Peraza has performed and recorded with such musical icons as Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie, Machito, Mongo Santamaria, Celia Cruz, Xavier Cugat, Art Tatum, George Shearing, Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Tito Puente, Josephine Baker, Wes Montgomery, Dave Brubeck, Stan Kenton, Andre Previn, Judy Garland, Slim Gaillard, Cal Tjader, Lalo Schifrin, Chick Corea, Randy Weston, Tony Williams, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Francisco Aquabella, Jerry Garcia, Jaco Pastorius, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Sly and The Family Stone, John Lee Hooker, Rick James and Linda Ronstadt.

Regarded as one of the greatest congueros of all time, Puerto Rican born Giovanni Hildago was a child prodigy and continues to travel the world thrilling audiences with his virtuosic creativity. He is a master of Puerto Rican and Cuban folklore as well as pioneer in the evolution of modern hand drum technique. He has released several CDs and videos as a soloist and bandleader, and has performed and recorded with countless musical legends including Tito Puente, Cachao, José Luis Quintana "Changuito," Eddie Palmieri, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Palmieri, Jack Bruce, Paul Simon, and Art Blakey.

Four-time Grammy nominated San Francisco native John Santos is an internationally renowned multi-percussionist, producer and educator who has led some of the most influential Latin bands out of the San Francisco Bay Area of the last 30 years. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, Pancho Quinto, Max Roach and Omar Sosa among many others.

Uruguayan-born Edgardo Cambón is a San Francisco Bay Area institution unto himself, as leader of the Salsa band Candela since 1987. He is a versatile and accomplished vocalist and percussionist and has been also featured with SoVoSo and Keith Terry's Crosspulse.

Feliberto "Fito" Reinoso is a great Cuban sonero, rumbero and bandleader, and is one of the greatest exponents of those Cuban genres outside the island. He has delighted San Francisco Bay Area audiences with his melodious vocal improvisations since the early 1980s

José Luís Gomez is a Cuban vocalist who specializes in various folkloric styles from his homeland. He has resided in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1970s.

Iluminado "Yaya" Maldonado is a Nuyorican who doubles as a percussionist and vocalist and specializes in the Cuban rumba. He has been a fixture in the Bay Area music scene since the mid-1980s.

Michael Spiro is an internationally renowned teacher, multi-percussionist, recording artist and record producer who specializes in Cuban and Brazilian music. He has performed with Toninho Horta, Lalo Schifrin, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Dori Caymmi, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. John and Mark Levine among many others. He has been a San Francisco Bay Area resident since 1980.

Carol Steele is a pioneering multi-percussionist whose percussive rhythms and voice have been heard in countless performances and recordings by international stars such as Mongo Santamaría, Stevie Winwood, Manhattan Transfer, Stevie Winwood, Jeffrey Osborne, Joan Baez, Tears For Fears and Cindy Lauper. She is a native San Franciscan recently returned home after some 30 years in New York City.

Javier Navarrette is one of San Francisco's "young lions," freelancing as a multi-percussionist with several of the best dance bands in the area and working more and more frequently as a teacher of youth and adults.

San Francisco native and multi-percussionist Karl Perazzo began as a child prodigy in the 1970s and honed his considerable skills and talents to become one of the greatest percussionists in the field today. He has been featured with the Santana Band for the last ten years with whom he has toured the world.


A Tribute to Armando Peraza is sponsored by LP Percussion.