Calixto sitting in with PMG at the 2014 show - photo by Tom Ehrlich

This year will be the most Latin-oriented SJ Jazz Festival since the legendary 2014 Summerfest, and features several of the same headliners - Pedrito Martínez Group, Calixto Oviedo & Lily Hernández (we'll have an interview with Calixto tomorrow) and Jimmy Bosch - as well a some great funk bands - George Clinton & Maceo Parker - Daymé Arocena - Oscar Hernández and a long string of the best Bay Area groups - Conjunto Karabalí, Carlitos Medrano, Manny Martínez, Pacific Mambo and many others.

Pedrito plays Saturday at 3:00 with his own group and at 6:00 with Angélique Kidjo. Calixto will play Sunday at 4:30. Here's the full lineup.

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Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery from the recent performance of Feliciano Arango and Amistad Cubana at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. 

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Here's Tom Ehrlich's gallery and report from the recent Bay Area performance of Jane Bunnett & Maqueque.

Here's the rest of the tour, including Richmond, NY, Ontario and British Columbia.

Other news: Pupy cancelled in the Bay Area due to visas, but the rest of the tour looks good; SJ Jazz (Aug 11-14) is packed with great Latin acts (Pedrito Martínez, Calixto Oviedo, Daymé Arocena, Carlitos Medrano, Conjunto Karabalí, Oscar Hernández Quartet, Jimmy Bosch, Pacific Mambo, Brian Andres, Manny Martínez, and others - plus George Clinton and Maceo Parker - much more on this soon; Tom's Arango photos also coming soon).

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The founding bassist of NG La Banda - and the seminal figure in the development of timba bass - playing will be in the Bay Area with his group Amistad Cubana at Ashkenaz on San Pablo Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. Only $15 in advance - a welcome respite in terms of ticket price inflation. It will be Feliciano's first Bay Area performance since the 90s.

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