Legends, Virtuosos & Magic under the Moon & the Mangos

I’VE BEEN TRYING TO figure out why this annual winter Festival of Music here in Puerto is so amazing. Of course, it enlivens the cultural and nightlife scenes; it creates an explosion of exceptional music throughout our town, bursting beyond the official Festival venues.

Sure, what’s not to love about talented musical artists coming to town,playing their hearts out, making us sway and boogie and letting us know we’re alive?

I’ve been fortunate to have experienced these series of musical events since they began with some jamming by noted Canadian blues players invited to visit by longtime winter resident Bill Evans.

I’ve written about the players, checked their biographies and discographies, discussed musical genres and their roots and development. But now I realize that this isn’t the point. What has been evolving here isn’t something you analyze and neatly define. It’s something visceral. The word that keeps coming to mind is magical.

What we have here is an alchemy. a perfect melding of elements that transforms them all. And the catalytic element is Puerto Escondido, this corner of paradise that has cast its spell over all of us: Isn’t that why we’re here?

That spell worked on Jack de Keyser, who started all of this. It worked on Enrico Crivellaro, on Catfish Keith, on Paul James, Neil Chapman and many others who now consider Puerto a second home.

It was particularly interesting to see how the first-timers succumbed to the Puerto enchantment. When the YoYo Breakers arrived, just after opening for The Killers at a sold-out soccer stadium in Guadalajara, sitting by the pool at the Split, rapping with Enrico, Alberto & Nelson, as Brad plied them with his world-famous BBQ, it struck me that, hey, this isn’t about flashy showbiz; No divas, no whiners, no complainers -- just a bunch of dudes grooving.
Where else can you perch at the the bar next to Jackie Lomax, grizzled veteran of ‘60s British rock explosion, as he talked about sitting in Abbey Road studios during the recording of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper”? Or listen to Paul James tell stories about Bo Didley, Lightening Hopkins and his friendship with Bob Dylan? Or toss horse shoes with Neil Chapman?

Puerto Music is an affirmation of the specialness of its host city: very cool, laid back, accessible, yes, magical.
Perhaps Enrico Crivellaro, who returned to us with a new CD, “Mojo Zone” (which earned four-star rating from “Downbeat” magazine), put it best: “Man, Puerto is like Austin 20 years ago!” That was when that Texas city began to be called “The Live Music Capital of America”.

Well, perhaps we are on the way to creating just such a legacy. One thing is clear that music and Puerto Escondido are a perfect fit. And festivals such as this might soon take their place alongside surfing, perfect weather, gorgeous beaches, cultural and environmental diversity as a reason to visit and stay a spell.

OTHER THOUGHTS: There hasn’t been a better venue for the Festival. The grounds at the Split Coconut, under the stars and the mango trees, provide a relaxed and intimate setting with great sightlines and a natural amphitheater with terrific accoustics.

The logistics couldn’t have been better: no long lines for liquid refreshment, good food, fast and efficient service.

Guest Artist: New Orleans’ Nelson Lunding added a richly textured keyboard and some fine vocals to the proceedings. He proved that he can play anything with anybody!

Great Moments: Jackie Lomax explained convincingly that “The Blues Made Me Do It” and confirmed a special chemistry with Enrico C;
When María Jimena joined Volcano (who provided excellent rythm support throughout) and proceeded to nail four Led Zeppelin songs! Wow! “Hey, Brad,” I commented to our Festival host, “I’ve never seen María rock like that!”

“That was my birthday present,” he told me (Bradley turned 50 at New Year’s). I asked her to learn 6 Zeppelin tunes and play them during the Festival.”
María -- who plays the Split every Thursday -- has an angelic voice and broad repertoire, and she proved that she can really cut it loose!

Credit Due: Bradley Lopez, festival director, deserves special recognition: for taking all of this upon his ample shoulders, while still running a thriving business; for having the courage to take chances, the vision to provide something new. But most of all for his supreme love of the music.

A Jazz Sublime

Yes! It was all that it promised to be. It was all we hoped it would be. And, maybe, just a little bit more! "The best musical program ever heard in Puerto Escondido!" "The finest lineup of virtuosos I've ever seen." These were some of the comments made by some of those fortunate enough to have experienced this sublime night of transcendent music.

It was a stunning display of musicianship, a joyful celebration of the music called jazz, proof of the emotional power of performance when the players share an exquisite harmony, the sound comes through clear and true and the audience is ready to take a ride.

It was also a triumphant home coming for Luis Gasca, who graciously held court, orchestrating the proceedings, greeting the many friends and well wishers who stopped by for this night's tribute to the man and his music.

"These guys are so good, I don't have to play," he commented. And, indeed, they were: Gabriel Hernández, undoubtedly on of the greatest keyboard players of his generation, Bobby Kaplan, the essence of cool, mellow vocals and swingin' scat and total mastery of his drums, brushes and sticks, Tyler Mitchell, theatrical, resonant and melodic in passionate embrace with his stand-up bass.

But Luis did play, of course, keeping the energy at fever pitch with his soaring notes, subtle phrasings, seamless improvisation and unexpected detours.

Andy Gamon added some passionate vocal threads and Victor Monterubio confidently relieved Bobby on drums, or joined him with conga and bongos.

It was hot! It was magical! Can it get any better than this?

Let's find out tonight!



Here's what I wrote about the final week of Puerto Music 2010, before these amazing musicians arrived in Puerto and wove a magic spell Wednesday night for those of fortunate enough to have been there for the enchantment.

LET ME BE CLEAR HERE: This last week of Puerto Music 2010 will gather together a cast of jazz all-stars, the likes of which have never been assembled in our city, nor, I believe, anywhere in this state.

Luis Gasca has been acknowledged as one of the most important trumpet artists for more than four decades. His skills are unquestioned, his performance history could fill this entire magazine and his recording output would create the core of a damn fine music library: Woody Herman, Mongo Santamaría, Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Grateful Dead, Van Morrison Álbum, Cal Tjader, Joe Henderson,Tito Puente, Hubert Laws, Herbie Hancock and on.

He is bringing along some of his friends who are equally respected and accomplished in the world of jazz. Gabriel Hernandez, Cuban born pianist, could very easily be ranked mong the 10 best in the world today and a household name.

But he, Luis and Bobby Kaplan and Tyler Mitchell, have chosen to abandon life in the fast lane and live in as expatriates in a comfortable laid-back community in a culture they love. (Sound familiar?)
Home is San Miguel de Allende, a long established artist colony, but now even hipper with a thriving jazz scene that gave birth to an international jazz festival which now ranks right up there with the most highly regarded in the world.

(To many of which they are invited to participate.)

Bobby Kaplan is a veteran jazz drummer and a vocalist whose can croon those romantic classics, then throw in a little scat. Tyler is superb bass player - - stand up bass, of course. Also taking part in this milestone event, a rising Mexicam percussionist, Victor Monterubio and multi-talented Andy Gamon.

It’s going to be awesome and you won’t want to miss this.

THE FESTIVAL WEEK BY WEEK

Find out who will rock Puerto Music Festival 2010

WEEK ONE

Wednesday/Miércoles, Jan 13
6:30 p.m. Maria Jimena and Friends
7:30 p.m. Fors Project
8:50 p.m. Paul James with special guest Nelson Lunding

Saturday/Sábado, Jan 16
6:30 p.m. Volcano
8:50 p.m. Paul James and Nelson Lunding


PAUL JAMES is a Canadian cultural icon and an international rock legend over more than three decades. An electrifying performer, he embodies the spirit and raw energy of ‘50’s rock ‘n’ roll. But on stage, strapped into his guitar, riffing with some honky tonk, a big scoop of blues and r and b, his is a roots sound that isn’t frozen in time, and won’t be confined with easy labels.

Bo Diddley, John Hammond, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sunnyland Slim, Spencer Davis, Jack Scott and Mink De Ville can all attest to the power of Paul James’ guitar artistry. He’s a musician’s musician, but more importantly, the consummate crowd pleaser.

In 1986, he was hamming it up at a club in Toronto, playing with one hand and drinking a beer with the other when, Bob Dylan jumped up right in front of him. Yes, that Bob Dylan. James, a Dylan fan since he “first heard him,” thought he was hallucinating. Dylan joined him on stage. “Just introduce me as the hitchhiker from Vancouver,” he told James.
Some time later, Dylan returned the favour -- Summoning James to a concert at Buffalo’s Midland Arena. Near the end of the show, Dylan announced that he had a friend in the audience. Would Paul James care to join him on stage? Duh, yeah!
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MUSIC FEST 2010’S RHYTHM SECTION: Volcano is a blues, R’n’B and cover band from Monterrey - - Federico de Hoyos, on guitar, Carlos Ruiz Bustamante, bass, and Hugo García García on drums (pictured opposite page). They have passed through Puerto on occasion, demonstrating their solid skills and versatility at the Split and other locales. You can judge for yourselves; they’ll be backing up many of the invited headliners, as well as presenting their own sound as one of the many exciting opening acts.
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NELSON LUNDING is pure Crescent City. A fixture on the New Orleans A club circuit, he’s a masterful keyboardist and his easy smile and friendly, unpretentious demeanor epitomizes his laid-back home town, as those of us who were fortunate to meet him when he was a surprise performer last year’s festival can tell you.

We’re hoping he’ll stay a spell longer in Puerto this time around.He arrived in Puerto Escondido at the behest of Luis Gasca (See Week Five), who knows young talent when he hears it. Dr. John once said of Nelson, who was a protege of the great Allen Toussaint, “Damn! that skinny, white boy knows how to play.”


THE FORS PROJECT: As Puerto Music 2010 dazzles us with its line up of visiting stars, we can’t lose sight of the talented artists who live here in our community and bring us stellar entertainment year round.

Special mention should go to Alfonso Fors and his Fors Project. Cuban-born, U.S. and Mexican educated, guitarist, vocalist and composer Alfonso Fors was a major presence in the Mexican rock scene playing with groups such as Cuca, Los Caifanes and La Lupita, before choosing the tranquility of life in Puerto.

But his creativity and artistic development haven’t skipped a beat, as evidenced by his collaboration with Canadian guitar and jarana wizard, David Blais and his long-time partner Julianne Chadwick Fors, vocalist, percussion effects and general animator. You’ll see lots of them during these heady weeks of music mania. But when the headliners have moved on, they’ll still be here serving up those seamless, flowing medleys of all those favorites, from the Kinks, Burdon, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, and their own compositions: Eclectic, bold, by measures mellow, rich and on the edge, uncompromisingly original.

WEEK TWO

Wednesday/Miércoles, Jan 27
6:30 p.m. Catl
7:30 p.m. Enrico Crivellaro Band
8:50 p.m. Yo Yo Breakers

Saturday/Sábado, Jan 30
6:30 p.m. Fors Project
7:30 p.m. Enrico Crivellaro Band
8:50 p.m. Yo Yo Breakers


YOYO BREAKERS might just be the hottest contemporary rock group in Mexico right now. Based in Guadalajara, it is made up of some of the best players from the surging Rock en Español wave: Ugo Rodríguez, Yuri González, formerly of “Azul Violeta” Bola Domene, from the famed “La Lupita”, Gil Tapia and and Janko Mercardo formerly with “Plastiko”.

Their sound is not easy to classify; they create a kind of electronic party -- it’s pure instinct, not confined to any single musical gender.

Their independent releases have won them a growing cult following, especially after one of their tracks “I Believe,” was featured in the Mexican movie "Amar a morir". (Their first disc contained 7 English-language songs). Come and experience a Mexican band bound for some major success.
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ENRICO CRIVELLARO
There’s no shortage of North American blues players who have made a splash in Europe. But Enrico Crivellaro reversed that migratory trend. Born in Padua, Italy, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he proved that passion and talent can transcend political and cultural borders. A major presence on the international blues scene, his versatility in different musical genres has taken him all over the world with blues, rock, jazz and country bands, not to exclude his multiple, crowd pleasing appearance at Puerto’s music festivals. John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Lou Reed and members of Kiss and Guns N’ Roses are some of those who have called upon him. But perhaps the greatest tribute to Enrico’s stylings is the fact that he is one of models you can select in the hit video game “Guitar Hero!” Welcome back, Enrico.
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CATL is a hot Toronto trio whose new release has generated a cover story in that city’s weekly mag and a piece in the national The Globe & Mail. Catl, aka Jamie Fleming, the trio’s soul and founder, is also a riveting solo performer. He sat in as last minute guest at the Blues Fest two years ago Since then, his band has appeared at major music festivals and won the Toronto Blues Society’s best new talent award last summer.

He clearly has a love for Mexico, as evidenced by the enigmatic name he uses professionally and the name of his latest group’s debut album ¿Adónde vas? A ningún lado. (“Where are you going? Nowhere”).

He’s been bringing his family to Puerto for several years and we can’t wait to hear this rising star who promises an evening of powerful Mississippi Delta, juke-joint blues.

WEEK THREE

Wednesday/Miércoles, Feb 10
6:30 p.m. Catfish Keith
7:30 p.m. The Fors Project Plus
8:50 p.m. Jackie Lomax with Enrico Crivellaro

Saturday/Sábado, Feb 13
6:30 p.m. Maria Jimena and Friends
7:30 pm. Volcano
8:50 p.m. Jackie Lomax with Enrico Crivellaro


JACKIE LOMAX is a legend among his musician contemporaries, but he just might be the unluckiest superstar in rock ‘n’ roll. Born John Richard Lomax in 1944 in northern England, in the early ‘60s, Jackie Lomax became part of the Merseybeat scene in Liverpool with a band named The Undertakers. They followed the same route as The Beatles through local venues, including the hallowed Cavern club and like the Fab Four, took off for Hamburg, Germany, before finally securing a record deal.

And that’s when his decades-long spate of bad luck and the elusiveness of commercial success began.

He formed the Lomax Alliance in 1966 in America out of the remains of the Lost Souls. The band had incredible potential and Brian Epstein brought them back to Britain to record and album for Columbia/CBS, but the with the untimely death of Epstein, the album was never released.

The Beatles’ new record label. Apple took over responsibility for Jackie’s career, with George Harrison taking a leading management role. They recorded Jackie with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Nicky Hopkins.

Despite the superstar line-up and the extraordinary artistic quality of the discs, they were poorly promoted and didn’t sell enough to make the charts in Britain or the U.S.. With the breakup of the Beatles, Apple Corps fell apart and for Jackie things just seemed to get even worse.

Over the intervening years, Jackie played with a who’s who of rockers on both sides of the Atlantic, released recordings for a stream of small labels and delved deeper into the R ‘n’ B, roots sounds that he dearly loves. Despite the capricious whims of fate which denied him his place in the pantheon of rock stardom, those have played with the man they call “Liverpool Slim” and those who have heard him perform know that is where he belongs.
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CATFISH KEITH, singer, songwriter and bottleneck slide guitarist has established himself as one of the most exciting country blues performers of our time. Catfish’s innovative style of foot-stomping, deep delta blues and American roots music has spellbound audiences the world over, including those in Puerto Escondido who were fortunate enough to catch his performance here, including a headlining slot at Puerto Blues 2007.

The 30-year veteran has toured the USA, UK and Europe dozens of times to wide acclaim, headlining major music festivals, and appearing with legends John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Robert Cray, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Leo Kottke, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Johnny Shines and many, many others.

Catfish is the real thing.

WEEK FOUR

Wednesday/Miércoles, Feb 24
6:30 p.m. Maria Jimena and Friends
7:30 p.m. Rosela & Gwen
8:50 p.m. Neil Chapman Allstars

Saturday/Sábado, Feb 27
6:30 p.m. Memo López & the Puerto All Stars
7:30 p.m. Fors Project
8:50 p.m. Neil Chapman Allstars


NEIL CHAPMAN You need a great, hard-rocking guitarist and singer, who you gonna call? Neil Chapman is a first call session player, having recorded with bands large and small, too numerous to detail. And he’s a favorite choice for touring stars. Leonard Cohen, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Randy Bachman and Toots and the Maytals are among the performers who have invited him to join them. The Canadian rock scene considers him a “national treasure”, having founded such hit groups as the Pukka Orchestra, Netone and, more recently, Autocondo and the current sensation, Zedhead.

He says his musical influences include ZZ Top and Jimi Hendrix and his personal motto is ”Rock hard or don’t rock at all.”

No surprise then that MusicFest 2010 sent out the call to Neil Chapman to light up he crowd one more time.
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MARÍA JIMENA made a huge impression in Puerto when she was added to the line up of the 2008 Puerto Blues Festival. Everyone was taken by her voice - the electrifying, self-assured, voice of a diva.

Maria Jimena Cortina Baldioceda, daughter of Mexico and Costa Rica, came to us from Cuernavaca where she had been performing professionally since she was 22. She has it all: the natural talent, the bel canto trained voice, the make-up, the clothes, the love of the bright lights In Puerto she found an international audience of all ages which allowed her to sing the songs of her choosing. That includes her original compositions, mostly sweet love songs, and the music she grew up with: everything from Summertime to La Paloma. But it doesn’t matter what she sings; it’s the voice and the way she connects with the audience that makes her performances so outstanding.
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MEMO LÓPEZ has a long association with the Split Coconut, host of Music Fest 2010. It was there, when it was located in the Hotel Vista Hermosa during 2005 and 2006, that Memo earned his bona fides as a musician with blues in his soul. He is a fixture on the Puerto club scene, playing with groups such as Los López. He also runs a school for Puerto’s next generation of musicians.
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ROSELLA & GWEN Gwen’s melodic violin and Rosella’s sweet vocals and guitar create a richly textured sound as a duo or part of a larger configuration of artists.

WEEK FIVE

Wednesday/Miércoles, Mar 3
& Saturday/Sábado, Mar 6
Luis Gasca, Gabriel Hernández, Bobby Kaplan and Tyler Mitchell

JAZZ IS A MEDIUM THAT transcends national borders, a language that speaks to all who are willing to heed its message. It is truly fitting that for MusicFest 2010’s Jazz Week, the major players are, like many of us here in Puerto, expatriates who have chosen Mexico as their home, while weaving something of their heritage into the cultural fabric of their adoptive nation.

LUIS GASCA, a Texan of Mexican ancestry, lives summers in San Miguel Allende and winters in Playa del Carmen. He needs no introduction to long-time residents. He was such a familiar presence in Puerto, that it’s easy to overlook the awesome talent that he possesses. A trumpet player, composer and band leader, Luis Gasca’s career has embraced Jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Since 1959, he has worked with countless musicians from Count Basie and Woody Herman to Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Janis Joplin and Santana.

He returns to Puerto to bring a taste of his favorite music to Festival 2010 and he’s bringing along some very special friends:

GABRIEL HERNANDEZ is a Cuban-born pianist, who also makes his home in San Miguel Allende, when he’s not appearing at Jazz Festivals around the world. Acknowledged as one of the best jazz and Latin pianists internationally, his musical education began at the age of 7 at a Music Conservatory in Camagüey, Cuba. By 15 he was winning awards for his playing and orchestration.

Gabriel has shared the stage with many of the greats, including Roy Hargrove, Jean Carter, Chucho Valdez, Tito Puente and plays regularly with the Afro Cuban- All Stars and The Fine Wine Trio, which includes neighbor, fellow ex pat and Festival guest artist, Bobby Kaplan.

BOBBY KAPLAN: A veteran jazz drummer and vocalist Bobby Kaplan, has worked with Marion Brown, Dave Burrell, Noah Howard, Gato Barbieri and Dexter Gordon. An American who decided living in Mexico is what he wanted, he decided on San Miguel. He discovered that hip enclave 20 plus years ago, when the group he was playing with in D.F. got a gig there. It didn’t have much of a jazz scene then, but the bohemian artist community there reminded him of Greenwich Village in the 60s, so he stayed to help build one.

And he was successful, SMA’s annual Jazz Festival is a huge all-star event. A model for P.E., perhaps?

TYLER MITCHELL is a solid bassist, a rhythm guy who can keep up with the best, and make the average better. He is known internationally as accompanist to the great Shirley Horn, on her final albums “Ultimate Shirley Horn” and “Light Out of Darkness,” a loving tribute to the genius of Ray Charles.