Latin Jazz Festival at the Greek Theater

Saturday night at the Greek Theater brings something called the Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival 2008, and it certainly looks to be a great night. Headlining is pianist Eddie Palmieri, whose amazing technique mixes Monk and McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock into Afro-Cuban music, and whose La Perfecta brought a trombone (or two) front and center, giving this music so much of its power.

Salsa fans will remember him from the Fania All Stars (and if you don't have any of those sides, pick some up). He'll have some great players with him, of course, including Puerto Rican vocalist Herman Olivera and Cuban violinist Alfredo de la Fe, and this stuff will be hot.

Palmieri's roots go all the way back to the era of the great Latin dance bands of the '50s (brought to life so vividly in the PBS documentary The Palladium: Where Mambo Was King), so having veterans of Tito Puente's orchestra appearing as the Latin Giants of Jazz is perfect, joined by flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Oreste Vilato (of Santana).

Opening the night is Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars. KKJZ announcer/bandleader Jose Rizo's collection of the best Latin players in town -- conguero Francisco Aguabella and saxist Justo Almario, among them -- absolutely burns. What a triple bill this will be.

Greek Theatre
2700 North Vermont, in Griffith Park
Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, May 10th
7pm

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