2013 MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL PART 1

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

PHOTOS BY TOM EHRLICH © 2013

ROBERTO FONSECA GROUP

ROBERTO FONSECA - PIANO, KEYBOARDS, VOCALS, LEADER

JORGE CHICOY - GUITAR, CAVAQUINHO

RAMSÉS RODRÍGUEZ - DRUMS

JOEL HIERREZUELA - PERCUSSION

YANDY MARTÍNEZ - BASS

YACOUBA SISSOKO - KORA

Ever since the first time I heard Roberto Fonseca on the radio, I have been a fan of his music.  Por fin I had the opportunity to hear the latest version of his group perform twice, once at Monterey Jazz Festival as the opening act of the festival and once opening for Orquesta Buena Vista Socail Club in San Francisco. Both were incredible performances, my favorite being the one in Monterey.

 Roberto's music is a unique mixture of Afro-Cuban, Jazz, hip hop, rock, world music and more.  His group was a great way to get this world famous jazz festival going on a high note.

What follows are a large group of photos from Monterey Jazz Festival.

Joel Hierrezuelo conga and Yandy Martínez bass

Never heard of Joel but he was top shelf and Yandy used to play with Havana D'Primera

Roberto Fonseca

Jorge Chicoy

One of the top guitarists in Cuba, played with Irakere, Arturo Sandoval, Hilario Duran and others.

Yandy Martínez

Ramsés Rodrîguez drum set

Roberto Fonseca

Joel Hierrezuelo conga

Ramsés Rodríguez drum set,Joel Hierrezuelo congas, Jorge Chicoy guitar and Robert Fonseca piano

Jorge Chicoy playing a Brazilian cavaquinho

Yacouca Sissoko

Yacouba Sissoko master kora player from Mali.  The best kora improvising that I have ever experienced.

Jorge Chicoy guitar, Joel Hierrezuelo conga and Yandy Martínez bass

Roberto Fonseca

Yacouba Sissoko kora and Ramsés Rodríguez drums

Joel Hierrezuelo

Yacouba Sissoko

Yandy Martínez

Roberto setting some recordings to play (mostly of others singing including the late Ibrahim Ferrer)