INFORMATION FOR
Legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo, Sr. joins forces with the high-energy Latin Jazz Ensemble led by Latin jazz icon Chico Mendoza on March 7, 2010 as part of the spring Jazz Room Series. The concert will begin at 4 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on the campus.
Prior to the concert, Escovedo will be the guest for “Sittin’ In,” an informal discussion about jazz, at 3 p.m. in room 101 of Shea Center. Admission is free to all Jazz Room ticketholders.
Escovedo is an artist who broke down barriers between smooth jazz, salsa, Latin jazz and contemporary music. He has been a major force in the music industry for more than 50 years.
Growing up in Oakland, California, Escovedo was surrounded by music throughout his childhood. He and his younger brother, the late Coke Escovedo, both developed quickly as percussionists and were greatly in demand for gigs in Northern California. With their youngest brother Phil Escovedo playing bass, the Escovedo Bros Latin Jazz Sextet was formed.
Escovedo and his brother Coke went on tour with Carlos Santana for three years beginning in 1972, performing internationally and playing on the albums Moonflower, Oneness, and Inner Secrets. In later years, the brothers formed the 14-piece Latin big band Azteca, recording two albums for Columbia.
Since then, Escovedo has recorded and toured with some of the major voices of jazz, pop, and R&B, including Chick Corea, Stephen Stills, Al Jarreau, Prince, and Barry White and his daughter Sheila Escovedo (Sheila E.). Escovedo is from a very musical family that also includes brother Alejandro Escovedo, a musician and singer songwriter who performed at Shea Center in October.
Tickets are available in advance or on the day of the performance at $15 standard; $12 senior citizens, William Paterson faculty, staff and alumni; and $8 for non-William Paterson students. William Paterson students may attend free of charge.
The final Jazz Room Series concert will feature Maria Schneider as guest conductor with the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra on Friday, April 23 at 8 p.m. for a special performance in Shea Center.
Launched in 1978, The Jazz Room is one of the largest and most prestigious college-sponsored jazz events in the country. Performers include renowned professionals who encompass the complete spectrum of jazz, from practitioners of traditional jazz to avant-garde to bebop to swing to Afro-Latin jazz, as well as William Paterson’s own student ensembles. The series has won numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its innovative programming.
Funding for The Jazz Room at William Paterson University has been made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.
For tickets or information, call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371 or order online at www.wplive.org.
