John Santos and The Machete Ensemble will bring their innovative, explosive Afro-Latin Jazz sound to CSUMB’s World Theater on Saturday, May 8, 2004, at the sixth annual Heritage Music Festival.

A master percussionist, composer, bandleader and educator, Santos is considered to be one of the country’s foremost exponents of and experts on Latin music and has been credited with helping to preserve and teach traditional Afro-Latin Caribbean music. He has performed and recorded with Dizzy Gillispie, Cachao (Changuito), Tito Puente and Max Roach.

The offspring Cape Verdean and Puerto Rican parents, Santos was born in the Mission District of San Francisco. He grew up surrounded by music and was heavily influenced and inspired by Carlos Santana, Malo and Azteca. In 1976, Santos briefly played timbales with the Carlos Santana Band. Also during the ’70s, he led the Afro-Cuba folkloric group Orquesta Tipica Cienfuegos and served as the director of Orquesta Batachanga.

Sin 1985, Santos founded the Machete Ensemble, one of the premier Latin Jazz bands. The ensemble is made up of some of the most distinguished and accomplished artists in their field: Orestes Vilato (timbales, bongos); Paul Van Wageningen (drums); David Belove (bass); John Calloway (flute, percussion, piano, keys); Wayne Wallace (trombone); Ron Stallings (all saxes, clarinet, flute); Orlando Torriente (vocals); Murray Low (piano, keyboards); and Santos (director, congas, percussion). In 2003, their album, S.F. Bay was nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz album.

This year’s festival will also include one of Monterey Bay’s newest rock and roll combos, Erhman Hall and Nihongo No Chongo (also known as Erhman Hall and Yellow Fever, Erhman Hall and the Paris Texans, and Erhman Hall and Side of Fries). These quirky musicians got their start in a Seaside trailer park and are CSUMB students. They play original music as well as tunes from The Pixies, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Radio Head, Chicago, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye.

Another exciting feature of this year’s event will be performances by Mexican folkloric dance groups Esperanza del Valle and Ollin. Esperanza del Valle is known for performing choreodramas or “dance dramas” that blend traditional with modern forms of expression. The Watsonville-based group has worked with internationally recognized masters of Mexican folklorico dance since its inception in 1980. Ollin, a CSUMB student folklorico group, will present regional dances of Mexico.

What: Sixth Annual Heritage Music Festival

When: Saturday, May 8, 2004

Where: CSUMB World Theater, Building 28, Sixth Avenue

Time: 6:30 – 10 p.m.

Cost: $17 general admission; $10 discount and groups; $7 students

Parking: Free in lot 29

Information: World Theater Box Office, 582-4580

Disability Accommodations: Call 582-3009 before May 1