Jazz Articles about Pete Escovedo

About Pete Escovedo

Album Review

Sticking with a trend that has continued to thrive over the years, Craft Records' Jazz Dispensary imprint is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. Following on the heels of their reissues of The Visitors' Motherland (Muse, 1975) and Joe Henderson's Tetragon (Milestone, 1968), they have now tapped into the West Coast scene so well documented by Fantasy Records in the mid-'70s. Alongside jazz stalwarts such as Bill Evans, Cal Tjader, and Stanley Turrentine, the label was also knee-deep in the fusion and ...

Radio & Podcasts

Nicholas Payton, Louis Armstrong, Grant Stewart & Pete Escovedo

by Joe Dimino
October 19, 2025

We hustle into the 928th Episode of Neon Jazz with a master of the Latin Jazz world in Pete Escovedo. He recently swung through Kansas City to kick off a roaring jazz schedule for the new Folly Theater season. From there, we dig into veterans with new music like Grant Stewart, Nicholas Payton, Jonathan Karrant, Ted Piltzecker and Al Muirhead. The UNLV Jazz Ensemble drops in with new music showing off the future of jazz. We also check in on ...

Album Review

Yvonne Flores: Sheer Bliss

Read "Sheer Bliss" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
March 11, 2022

The debut album from Bay Area vocalist and composer Yvonne Flores, Sheer Bliss is musical magic from a wonderful singer armed with a sensuous voice and is sure to grab critical attention. The album contains seven original sand two standards in an offering of contemporary jazz and pop with a touch of the Latin and Brazilian flavors. Flores draws upon the talents of eighteen players with several heavy hitters among them. Latin jazz guitarist and producer of this ...

Book Review

My Life in the Key of E

by Richard J Salvucci
March 19, 2018

My Life in the Key of E: A Memoir Pete Escovedo with Sarah Spinner Escovedo 284 Pages ISBN: 978-0-692-87885-9 2017 It's not news that the music business is tough. There are some phenomenally talented people who scuffle for years trying to pay the rent. And, yes, there is the other phenomenon too,a commercially successful mediocrity elevated by the vagaries of popular taste. If for no other reason, Pete ...

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Album Review

Pete Escovedo: Live!

by Jim Santella
May 6, 2003

Today, Pete Escovedo stands as one of the primary standard bearers of Latin jazz – along with Poncho Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto. At this live session recorded last summer in San Diego, the vibrant timbalero shows why – with nods to Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, and Azteca, the large Latin funk band that Escovedo co-led along with his brother Coke in the early 1970s. His children sit in with the band as emotions rise and fall ...

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Album Review

Pete Escovedo: E Music

by Jim Santella
February 1, 2001

A “tipico” album of smooth jazz and Salsa, Pete Escovedo’s 5th Concord release is reminiscent of Tito Puente’s popular appeal. Mambo, guajira, cha cha cha, bolero and samba provide the listener a romantic evening with gentle, flowing motion. Escovedo’s heartfelt vocals, sensitive guest instrumentalists and his family’s rhythmic, percussive accompaniments drive the session. Son Peter Michael, daughters Sheila & Zina, and wife Juanita help balance the latest family project. Since the early 1950s, family has influenced Escovedo’s professional music choices. ...