April 26, 2024
For immediate release

Kyndra Gedney: (760) 397-5984, [email protected]

A 25-Year Retrospective: Celebrating the Legacy of the Afro Cuban Ensemble of SFSU

Calendar Editors Please Note
Who: Afro Cuban Ensemble of San Francisco State University
What: A 25 Year Retrospective
Where: Community Music Center, 544 Capp St., SF, CA 94110
Date & Time: Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM
Tickets: $25 - $28 general admission.
Box Office and Information: https://www.sfiaf.org or 415-399-9554.

Event webpage:
https://www.sfiaf.org/2024_afro_cuban_ensemble

Photos Available on Request

April 26, 2024, San Francisco: The San Francisco International Arts Festival proudly announces The Afro Cuban Ensemble of San Francisco State University's 25-Year Retrospective, set to take place on Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 PM at the Community Music Center. This retrospective promises an immersive journey through two and a half decades of music, culture, and community.

This retrospective is a milestone celebration honoring the ensemble's rich legacy under founder Dr. John Calloway's visionary leadership. John Calloway is a nationally recognized multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger who has had a simultaneous career in education for 40 years. He is known for his prolific work in jazz, Latin American, and other World music styles, and has performed and toured with such internationally known jazz musicians as Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Max Roach, and Pete Escovedo, and in the SF Bay Area, with Jesus Diaz, Mark Levine, John Santos, and Marcus Shelby.

This landmark event will feature live performances by alumni members of the ensemble as well as some current members, offering a vibrant showcase of Afro-Cuban music as well as highlighting other Latin American genres.

Alumni ensemble members include: Emilio Davalos, Alex Farrell, Julian Lopez, Chloe Scott, Gaby Aldaz, Rafael Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Saldaña, Rebecca Bouc, Bricen Shepard, Roberto Ruiz, Rebecca Rodriguez, and Jacqueline Corona.

Perhaps most known with illustrious careers in the Bay Area and beyond are these alumni:

Mónica María Fimbrez is a vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Lodi, CA, who has since made San Francisco her home. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Vocal Jazz and World Music. She has been active in the Bay Area music community for 20 years and has performed with bands such as Tarimba, Rumbaché, La Gente, Jesus Diaz y Su QBA, The Hitsville Soul Sisters (Motown/Soul), and Sol Tevél. http://MonicaMariaMusic.com

Ahkeel Mestayer is a professional musician and Ph.D. student in the Ethnomusicology department at UC Berkeley. He researches Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music and is currently working on a project that compares musical transculturation processes in Matanzas, Cuba, and Salvador, Brazil.

Daniel Casares has been a constant presence in the Bay Area music scene since 2005. Daniel has worked with notable artists such as Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Bernard Purdie, John Patitucci, and Robben Ford. He has performed at numerous festivals around the world including Montreux Jazz Festival. Currently he teaches saxophone performance at SFSU and resides in Berkeley where he continues to be a sideman all over the Bay Area and perform with his two groups, ATTA KID and Otis Mcdonald https://www.attakidmusic.com/

At the heart of the retrospective lies an engaging panel discussion facilitated by Luis Medina of KPFA radio. Calloway will delve into the ensemble's formation, mission, and illustrious history with insightful interviews and conversations. Attendees can anticipate a dynamic exploration of the ensemble's accomplishments, enriched by a visual journey through photos and panel members Carlos Baron, Felix Kury and alumni members.

The Afro Cuban Ensemble's 25-Year Retrospective promises an unforgettable celebration of the Afro Cuban Ensemble's enduring legacy. Join us for an evening of music, nostalgia, and celebration as we honor twenty-five years of cultural resonance and musical excellence.

Photos Available on Request

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