SEXTET____QUOTES____RESUME____REVIEWS____STAGE PLOT
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John Santos Compositions List …………. Click here for print version.
JOHN SANTOS
percussionist 
historian producer composer
1976-1980 Director of Orquesta Tipica Cienfuegos, SF, CA
1981-1985 Director of Orquesta Batachanga, SF, CA (Two commercially released recordings)
1985-2006 Founder and director of The Machete Ensemble, SF, CA (Nine commercially released recordings)
1985-present Founder and director of The Coro Folklórico Kindembo, SF, CA (Four commercially released recordings)
2003-2008 Founder and director of The John Santos Quintet, Oakland, CA (Two commercially released recordings)
2008-present Founder and director of The John Santos Sextet (One commercially released recording)
PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY (*John Santos as producer or co-producer)
Filosofía Caribeña Vol.1* The John Santos Sextet (Machete) 2011
La Esperanza* John Santos y El Coro Folklórico Kindembo (Machete) 2011
Perspectiva Fragmentada* The John Santos Quintet (Machete) 2008
La Guerra No* John Santos y El Coro Folklórico Kindembo (Machete) 2008
The Nature of the Beat Wayne Wallace (Patois) 2008
Azucar de Amor Kat Parra (Patois) 2008
Papa Mambo* The John Santos Quintet (Machete) 2007
Vagabundeo/WanderingsAlexa Weber Morales (Patois) 2007
The Reckless Search For Beauty Wayne Wallace (Patois) 2006
Dedication Wayne Wallace (Patois) 2006
Latigo 2007 GRAMMY Nominee Quartet San Francisco (ViolinJazz) 2006
Para Todos Ustedes* 2005 GRAMMY Nominee Los Pleneros de la 21 (Smithsonian/Folkways) 2005
20th Anniversary* J.S. and Machete (Machete) 2005
Para Ellos* 2005 GRAMMY Nominee J.S. and the Coro Folklorico Kindembo (Machete) 2004
Brazos Abiertos* J.S. and Machete (Machete) 2003
S.F. Bay* 2003 GRAMMY Nominee J.S. and Machete (Machete) 2002
Princesa de la Naturaleza Maria Marquez 2003
Sentir Omar Sosa (Ota) 2002
Echoes in Blue Wayne Wallace (Spirit Nectar) 2001
Mambo Jazz* Bobby Matos/John Santos (Cubop) 2001
Prietos Omar Sosa (Ota) 2001
Tribute to The Masters* John Santos and Machete (Cubop) 2000
La Mar* John Santos and Omar Sosa 2000
Bembon Omar Sosa (Ota) 2000
Three in One Wayne Wallace (Spirit Nectar) 2000
Once Cuentos de Amor Maria Fernanda Marquez (Ryko Latino) 2000
Cuba Without Borders Comp. Machete, Pancho Quinto, Omar Sosa, Los Terry, John Calloway 2000
El Campanazo Jackeline Rago and the Venezuelan Music Project 2000
Cuban Roots Revisited Mark Weinstein, F. Aguabella, Lazaro Galarraga and O. Sosa (Cubop) 1999
Machetazo* John Santos and Machete (Bembé) 1998
Nfumbe* John Santos and Omar Sosa (Price Club) 1998
Pound for Pound Charlie Hunter Quartet (Blue Note) 1998
Playing it Cool Joyce Cooling (Heads Up) 1997
Front Porch Music Linda Tillery (Earthbeat) 1997
Flores* Conjunto Cespedes (Xenophile) 1997
Bird Goes Latin Jamey Aebersold 1996
From Africa to Camaguey Los Terry/Cuba (Round World) 1996
Tierra Adentro* Claudia Gomez (Xenophile) 1996
Flying South Pete Escovedo Orchestra (Concord) 1996
Ritmo Y Candela II Patato, Orestes Vilato and Walfredo Reyes Sr. (Tonga) 1996
Hacia el Amor* Coro Folklórico Kindembo (Xenophile) with Francisco Aguabella 1996
Machete* John Santos and Machete (Xenophile) with Cachao and Chocolate 1995
Skin Talk* Carolyn Brandy 1995
Vivito y Coleando* Conjunto Céspedes (Xenophile) 1995
Latin Jazz Jamey Aebersold 1994
Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir (Tuizer) 1994
Una Sola Casa* Conjunto Céspedes (Green Linnet) 1993
Collage/Afro-Cuban Jazz* Bobby Matos Heritage Ensemble (Night Life) 1993
Forman on the Job Bruce Forman, Joe Henderson (Kamei) 1992
Bebop & Beyond Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Martin, George Cables (Blue Moon) 1991
Cantos With legendary vocalist Lázaro Ros & Mezcla, Havana, Cuba (Intuition) 1990
Goza mi Timbal Tito Puente Orchestra (Concord) 1989
Mr. E. Pete Escovedo Orchestra (Concord) 1988
Africa Vol.1* John Santos and Machete (Earthbeat) 1988
September Ballads Mark Murphy w/ Art Farmer, Larry Coryell, Oscar Castro-Neves (Milestone) 1987
Un Poco Loco Tito Puente Orchestra (Concord) 1987
Sensación Tito Puente Orchestra (Concord) 1986
Si Me Ves Diferente* Johnny Nelson Orchestra (Mila’s) 1986
Mañana Para Los Niños* Orquesta Batachanga (Earthbeat) 1985
Yesterday’s Memories, Tomorrow’s Dreams Pete Escovedo (Esgo) 1985
La Nueva Tradicion* Orquesta Batachanga (Sugarloaf) 1982
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival The JS Sextet with Rico Pabón 2011
Filosofía Caribeña World Premiere - SFJAZZ The JS Sextet and special guests 2011
Filosofía Caribeña - Smithsonian Institution The JS Sextet with Jerry Medina 2011
Tribute to Cachao - Tanglewood Jazz Festival (MA) The JS Sextet 2011
Master Planet Drums Anfiteatro Tito Puente, Puerto Rico Giovanni Hidalgo, Negro Hernandez 2007
Tribute to Armando Peraza Yerba Buena Gardens Fest. SF JS and Rumbero All Stars w/Giovanni Hidalgo 2007
San Francisco Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete 20th Anniversary Concert 2005. Farewell Concert 2006
Latin Grammys International Telecast Cachao , Bebo Valdes, Orestes Vilato. Los Angeles CA 2005
The Getty Museum J.S. Quartet Los Angeles, CA 2005
Chicago Latin Jazz Festival J.S. Quintet 2004
San Jose Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete 2001, 2002, 2004. JS Quintet 2006, 2007, 2008
Monterey Jazz Festival Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge 2004
Bay Area Latin Jazz Legacy Series , La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley CA J.S and Machete 2003
Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stanford Jazz Concert Series Big Band, Director Fred Berry 2003
Tribute to Bay Area Percussionists at Monterey Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete 2002
Painted Bride Jazz Center, Philadelphia J.S. and Machete 2002
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA J.S./Omar Sosa Trio 2001
Chicago Jazz Festival Batacumbele 2000
Conciertos de Tambores Residency J.S. and Machete with Sandy Perez, Roberto Borrell, Regino Jimenez, Luis Cepeda, Roman Carrillo, Quique Davila, Jose Luis Gomez, Cheo Rojas, Destani Wolf at Theater Artaud, SF 2000
Marin County Fair Mary Wilson. 2000
Chicago World Music Festival Omar Sosa/J. Santos Duo 1999
American Museum of Natural History, NY John Santos and Machete 1999
Chicago Jazz Festival John Santos and Machete. 1998
S.F. Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete 1999, ‘97, ‘94, ‘92, ‘90, ‘89, ‘87
Virgin Islands and East Coast Tour Omar Sosa 1999
Havana International Jazz Festival John Santos and Machete 1997
Sao Paulo Intl. Music Exposition Brazil 1997
S.F. Jazz Festival Omar Sosa, Charlie Hunter 1997
Monterey Jazz Festival Charlie Hunter 1997
Machete Ensemble East Coast U.S. Tour 1996
Monterey Jazz Festival, CA Lalo Schifrin with Carnegie Hall Jazz Band 1996
Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA Eddie Palmieri 1996
Cachao y su Orquesta European and U.S. Tour 1995
Great American Music Hall S.F. Irakere West 1995
Monterey Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete ‘94, ‘97
Concord Jazz Festival J.S. and Machete ‘89 & ‘94
Stern Grove Summer Concert Series S.F. J.S. and Machete 1988, 1993, 1997
Rhythm Makers With A. Peraza, F. Aguabella, Billy Cobham, Zakir Hussain, Tootie Heath, Ignacio Berroa and Danilo Perez, Stanford University, CA 1993
Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos S.F. Film Festival tribute to/with Cachao S.F. 1993
Great American Music Hall S.F. J.S. and Machete 1990, 1992, 1997
Jazz Masters With Dizzy Gillespie & Mel Martin, Herbst Theater, S.F. 1991
Mellon Jazz Festival Philadelphia, PA J.S. and Machete 1991
Sense Us Max Roach & Jon Jang, University of Kansas & Davies Symphony Hall, SF 1990
Oakland Coliseum With Nelson Mandela, J.S. and Machete 1990
Russian River Jazz Festival CA J.S. and Machete 1989
S.F. World Drum Festival With Tito Puente 1988
FILMS & MUSIC VIDEOS
Cachao: Uno Mas! (consultant/performer) Documentary by Andy Garcia and SF State University 2008
Race is The Place (performer) Documentary by Rick Tejada-Flores and Ray Tellez 2005
Every Child is Born a Poet: The Life and Work of Piri Thomas (Composer, performer) Doc. 2003
Why Don’t You and I Music Video, Carlos Santana 2003
Sworn to the Drum (Consultant) Documentary about Francisco Aguabella by Les Blank 1985-1995
Roots of Rhythm (Consultant) Three-part documentary by Les Blank, featuring Harry Belafonte 1986
La Familia Latina Tito Puente/Sheila E. Special with Pete Escovedo Orchestra 1986
INSTRUCTIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Lecturer, El Son Afro-Cubano, Museum of the African Diaspora SF, Fall, 2007
Lecturer, La Rumba No Es Como Ayer, Museum of the African Diaspora SF, Fall, 2007
Faculty, Afro Cuban Drum and Dance Program, Humboldt St. University, CA 2003-present
Faculty, Lafayette Summer Music Program, Lafayette, CA 2004-present
Lecturer, Roots of Latin Jazz and Salsa, Museum of the African Diaspora SF, July-October, 2007
Lecturer, Duke University, North Carolina 2006
Faculty, College of San Mateo, CA 2006-present
Faculty, Esalen Arts Festival, Big Sur, CA 2006
Faculty, Institute For Diversity in the Arts, Stanford University, CA 2005
Faculty, California Brazil Camp, Cazadero, CA 2005
Artist-in-Residence, Diaz Music Institute, Houston Texas 2005
Artist-in-Residence, University of California at Monterey Bay 2004
Artist-in-Residence, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor 2003, 2005
Artist-in-Residence, University of Wisconsin at Madison 2002
Artist-in-Residence, Association of Latin American Musicians Philadelphia 2002
Lecturer/clinician, Universidad Inter-Americana San Germán, Puerto Rico 2001
Clinician, mini-tour for LP, Argentina and Chile, SA 2001
Panelist, Natl. Association of Latino Arts and Culture San Antonio TX 2001
Lecturer/clinician, Intl. Assoc. of Jazz Educators Atlanta 1996, NY 1998, Anaheim 1999, New Orleans 2000, NY 2001, Long Beach 2002
Lecturer/clinician, Brigham Young University Salt Lake City, UT 2000
Lecturer/clinician, Yale University 1999
Faculty, World Percussion Fest Berklee School of Music, Boston, MA 1998-2001
Faculty, Jazz Camp, Rhythmic Concepts Inc. Aptos, CA 1986-present
Lecturer/clinician, UCLA 1995
Faculty, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Stanford University, CA 1989-2000
Spring clinic/lecture/concert tour Europe 1987-present
Adventures in Music, S.F. Symphony S.F. Unified School District ‘87-2002
Lecturer, Faces of the Gods exhibit U.C. Berkeley 1995
Lecturer/clinician, Percussive Arts Society Convention Atlanta, GA 1994
Roots of Salsa 16-wk. lecture series La Raza Graphics, S.F. CA 1987, ‘88, ‘89, ‘93
Jazz Masters Clinic Series Yoshi’s, Berkeley, CA 1991
Faculty, CSU Summer School for the Arts Humboldt St. U., Arcata, CA ‘89
Ethnomusicological presentations (T.V.) Ch. 2, 44, and 25, S.F. 1987
Faculty, Community Music Center S.F. CA 1980-1987
California Arts Council Artist-in-Residence Mission Cultural Center, S.F. CA ‘77-’80
PUBLICATIONS
“The Cuban Danzon” Downbeat Magazine 2007
Author, Afro-Cuban Jazz/Ancestral Rhythm for S.F. Jazz Festival’s “Threads of Jazz” series 1996
Consultant to Salsa Guidebook by Rebeca Mauleón 1993
“The History of Salsa in San Francisco” S.F. Bay Guardian 1992
Featured columnist for Latin Percussionist New York 1995-present
Featured columnist for international magazines Modern Drummer and Modern Percussionist 1985-1989
Featured columnist for Percussive Notes international magazine of the Percussive Arts Society 1985
LINER NOTES
What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life? Chembo Corniel 2007
Virgen de la Caridad Anthony Blea y Charanson 2004
Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta (Smithsonian Folkways) Compilation 2002
Three in One (Spirit Nectar) Wayne Wallace and Rhythm and Rhyme 2001
Cantaremos y Bailaremos ( Xenophile) Conjunto de Clave y Guaguancó, Cuba ‘94
La Historia del Son Cubano Vols.1 & 2, 1926-1930, Sexteto Boloña, Sext. Habanero (Folklyric 9053&9054) 1987
Music of Cuba (Folkways 4064) 1984
Ambassadors of Son (Ciboney West) Conjunto Son 14, Cuba 1983
The Cuban Danzón: Its Ancestors and Descendents (Folkways 4066) 1982
Carnaval en Cuba (Folkways 4065) 1981
SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS
Community Service Award from the San Francisco Foundation 2011
John Santos Quintet voted Best Latin Band of the Bay Area by the East Bay Express 2008
Mayoral Proclamation of Artistic/Cultural Recognition, City of San Francisco 2008
USA Fontanals Fellow 2007
Papa Mambo by the John Santos Quintet nominated by the Latin Jazz Corner for 2007 Album of The Year
Commissioned by SF Jazz Festival to compose and premiere Traditions in Transition with the SF High School All Star Big Band at the Palace of Fine Arts, November 11, 2007
Grant from Fund For Folk Culture in support of CD project La Guerra No by JS and The Coro Folklórico Kindembo ‘07
Champion of Diversity Award from the University of California at San Francisco 2006
November 12, 2006 proclaimed John Santos Day in San Francisco by Mayor Gavin Newsom
GRAMMY nomination for Para Todos Ustedes in the field of Best World Music Album 2006
GRAMMY nomination for Para Ellos in the field of Best Folk Album 2005
Bay Area’s Best Latin Band, SF Bay Guardian 2004
GRAMMY nomination for SF Bay in the field of Best Latin Jazz Album 2003
Commission by Oakland Ballet to compose and premiere Union Fraternal for Fall season 2000
Variety of Grants (Artist-in-Residence, Fellowship, Multi-Cultural Entry Level, etc.) California Arts Council 1976-1999
Commission by Brava! for Women in the Arts to compose original score for play, Watsonville, by Cherrie Moraga 1996
Commission by ODC to compose and premiere Under the Jaguar Sun at Yerba Buena Gardens Theater, S.F. CA 1994
Indie Award from NAIRD for production of Una Sola Casa by Conjunto Céspedes 1994
Artistic Community Service Award Mission Economic and Cultural Association, S.F., CA 1992
S.F. Weekly WAMMY Award for J.S. and Machete 1992
Commission by the National Performance Network and the Asociación de Músicos Latino Americanos to compose
and premiere Caribeño Suite at the Mellon Jazz Festival, Philadelphia, PA 1991
Artists Fellowship California Arts Council 1991
New Langton Arts and Festival 2000 grants for From Here to There with visual artist Kate Connell, S.F. 1990
SELECTED EVENT PRODUCTIONS (John Santos-artistic director/producer)
The African Element in Latin Jazz (four-part series clinic/concerts) J.S Quartet at the Jazz School Berk, CA 2006
The Anatomy of Latin Jazz (three-part series clinic/concerts) J.S Quintet at the Jazz School Berkeley, CA 2006
Fiesta Boricua J.S. and Machete with special guests including Jerry Medina and Rico Pabón, ODC SF 2004
Conciertos de Tambores J.S. and Machete with Chichito Cepeda, Ito Carrillo, Roberto Borrell, Theater Artaud 2001, Brava Theater 2002
Tribute to Orestes Vilató S.F. Jazz Festival with J.S. and Machete, Jose Fajardo, Felo Barrio and Nelson Gonzalez, Yerba Buena Theater 2000
Tribute to Armando Peraza S.F. Jazz Festival, with Al McKibbon, Francisco Aguabella, and Emil Richards, Masonic Auditorium 1995
Jazz Antillana Odunde Festival, J.S. and Machete, Center for the Arts Theater, SF 1994
The Drum is the Heartbeat Zellerbach Theater, U.C. Berkeley, J.S. and Machete with A. Peraza, Francisco Aguabella, Roberto Borrell, and Bobi Cespedes 1993
The Evolution of Afro-Cuban Music I & II S.F. Jazz Festival, J.S. and Machete with Cachao, Chocolate, Armando Peraza, Santana, Walfredo de los Reyes Sr., Orestes Vilató, and Coro Folklórico Kindembo, Davies Symphony Hall and Bimbo’s, 1989 &1990
Carnaval San Francisco Co-producer, 1980
The Chronological History of Salsa Tipica Cienfuegos with A. Peraza, Victoria Theater, S.F. 1980
OTHER
Smithsonian Institution Latin Jazz Advisory Committee, 1999-’02
Arts Education Initiative Program Advisory Committee, East Bay Community Foundation, Oakland, CA 1996-98
Advisory Board, Educational Liaison S.F. Jazz Festival 1983-present
President/founder, Machete Records S.F. 1984 to present
President/founder, Guataca Music Publishing Co S.F. 1991 to present
Ahora, monthly radio program KPFA-94.1 FM, Berkeley, CA 1986-1990
Kindembo, weekly radio program KPOO-89.5 FM, S.F 1983-1988
Community Arts Distribution Committee Zellerbach Family Fund, S.F. 1985-2008
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