Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

Grupo Falso Baiano

Zack Pitt-Smith: woodwinds

Brian Moran: seven-string guitar

Jesse Appelman: mandolin

Ami Molinelli: percussion

Choro – a traditional form of popular Brazilian music, similar to jazz, blending Latin American rhythms with melodies and forms derived from classical music. It is generally an instrumental genre, closely linked to samba.

Grupo Falso Baiano is a choro group that offers a window into the history and diverse culture of Brazil. Choro is one of Brazil’s earliest forms of popular music, dating back to the late 1800s, and, similar to jazz, it reflects the melding of African rhythms with a melodic and harmonic structure closely resembling Baroque Classical music.

Grupo Falso Baiano | biographies

Brian Moran | 7-string guitar

7-string guitarist Brian Moran hails from New Jersey, where he grew up playing piano and clarinet before deciding to focus on guitar. As a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Brian worked as a jazz guitarist and composer before discovering the rich tradition of the Brazilian 7 string guitar. Since then, he travels often to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, expanding his studies of the 7-string guitar, Brazilian mandolin and cavaquinho, a type of ukulele with Portuguese origins used in many styles of Brazilian music.

In addition to playing with Brazilian quartet Grupo Falso Baiano, Brian has performed with Jorge Alabê, Bruce Forman, Mundell Lowe, and Harvey Wainapel, amongst others, and was the bandleader, arranger and composer for jazz sextet Blowout, whose 2003 CD The Supporting Theory was released to critical acclaim.

Zack Pitt-Smith | reeds Woodwinds player

Zack Pitt Smith began his musical journey by playing a drum set at age 6. By age 11 the New York native was performing on the saxophone and studying woodwind technique and music theory at Eastman School of Music and later at Berklee College of Music. He went on to earn a degree in Ethnomusicology from Brown University. Zack has found his richest inspiration in several of Brazil’s traditional music styles. He has shared the stage with Jovino Santos, Harvey Wainapel, and Marcos Silva, Gene Harris, Slide Hampton and James Williams.

Jesse Appelman | mandolin (bandolim)

A Bay Area native, Jesse Appelman continues to split his time and his passion between Brazilian jazz and bluegrass. At the age of 11 he began studying his interest of bluegrass music by teaching himself the style’s requisite instruments – guitar and mandolin. Jesse first heard Brazilian master mandolin player Jacob do Bandolim in a formal lesson and “fell into the deep well that is Brazilian music.” Jesse is a graduate of Wesleyan University and spent six months studying Afro-Brazilian cultural history at the Universidade Catolica de Salvador and mandolin at the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Brazil. Jesse plays mandolin for Grupo Falso Baiano; and is a founding member of local bluegrass outfit Five Dollar Suit, which opened the 2007 San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival. Jesse has shared the stage with Mike Marshall, Harvey Wainapel, Danilo Brito and Dudu Maia

Ami Molinelli | percussion

Based in San Francisco, Ami Molinelli is currently a freelance musician, curriculum director for SFJazz and M.U.S.T., and currently plays percussion for Grupo Falso Baiano where her lyrical less-is-more approach, coupled with extensive research of traditional rhythms and styles both in Brazil and abroad, has earned her audience admiration and the respect of colleagues. She has studied Pandeiro and percussion with artists Guello, Marcos Suzano, Claudo Bebbiano, Randy Gloss, Michael Spiro and Durval Poeira to name a few. Ami earned a Master of Fine Arts in World Music form the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and has studied Brazilian percussion and dance at the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Salvador. Ami endorses Rhythm Tech percussion.

www.grupofalsobaiano.com

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

Karamo Susso & Friends – Kora Music of Mali

The kora, the 21-stringed harp lute of West Africa, originated in the ancient Kingdom of Mali more than a thousand years ago. Tradition tells us that djinns brought it into this world and gave it to the griots: families whose place in the culture was to sing the epics of heroes and relate histories. The griots played kora and sang in court to praise the kings, and in the villages to carry news and to celebrate traditional ceremonies. The music is intricate, elegant, and potent. It is sweet while strong, percussive while lyrical, active while calm. Centuries of complex tradition are heard in it, as are simple truths.

International kora star Karamo Susso will join us to celebrate Malian music. A well-known African performer, he has appeared in the past few years in numerous settings, contributing his unique spirit, from solo ventures to such world fusions as the World Blues Band, Symphony of Koras, Soul Union, and the Manding Band. Susso was born in Gambia, raised in Mali, and is a singer and kora master. He grew up in a compound of griots, next door to Toumani Diabate. His uncle was Ballake Cissoko. Susso played kora and performed even before he was big enough to hold the instrument. He has since gone on to perform with many of Africa’s top stars and American musicians including Taj Mahal.

Amina Janta was born in Oakland, California. Her mother was a part of the african dance community since before she was born so she was raised doing african dance and has performed with various companies like Umoja Dance Ensemble and Harambee Dance Ensemble and artists like Luciano, Junior Toots, and Ikronik.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

The Annex Sessions will continue Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 6-8:30pm at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)

Adam Theis Quartet

featuring:

Adam Theis – trombone

Josh Jones – percussion

Colin Hogan – drums

Julian Hogan – piano

Performing Jazz & Latin Jazz

Adam Theis (pronounced “Thēese”) is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, bandleader and composer based in Oakland, CA who plays trombone, trumpet, tuba, bass, keyboards and anything/everything else he can get his hands on. In 2000, Theis co-founded Jazz Mafia – an eclectic artist collective of some of the most forward thinking and accomplished players in the fields of Electro, Hip-Hop, World, Classical and of course, Jazz. As Jazz Mafia’s director, Adam has assembled over 100 different live projects over the past 20 years and led/co-led dozens of acclaimed bands. He is also the Director of SFJAZZ’s Monday Night Band, Director of the Truckee Jazz Camp, and winner of the Gerbode-Hewlett Foundation’s “Emerging Composer” Grant.

Theis has produced and co-written music for notable artists such as Lyrics Born, Zion-I, Rebelution, Latyrx, Galactic, Ledesi, Blackalicious and many more. As a sideman, Adam and his horn section have created eclectic collaborations with a wide range of top level artists including: Bobby McFerrin, Roy Ayers, Chali 2na, Booker T. Jones, Spearhead, Zigaboo Modeliste, Zap Mama, Eric Lindell, Making Movies, St. Panther, DJ Qbert, Dead Winter Carpenters, KRS One, Wax Tailor, The New Master Sounds, Peter Rowan, Coultrain, J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science, The Velvet Teen and dozens more.

Adam’s commitment to bringing high quality, creative, independent, and diverse music to the Bay Area (and beyond!) lies at the center of the Jazz Mafia movement. He is a cornerstone of the music community – shaping the sound of San Francisco and influencing the lives and careers of hundreds of musicians and audience-members all over the world.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

The Annex Sessions will continue Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 6-8:30pm at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)

Julio Bravo & Friends

featuring: Julio Bravo – vocals

with special guests:
Jose Soto – piano & guitar

David Pinto – bass guitar

Alberto Palomino – percussion

Raul Ramirez – percussion

and possibly others!

Salsa from Peru and beyond!

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

The Annex Sessions will continue Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 6-8:30pm at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)

Marina Lavalle Trio

featuring:

Marina Lavalle – vocals

Santiago “Coco” Linares – guitar

Pedro Rosales – cajon, vocals

The Music of Coastal Peru

Musician Bios:

Marina Lavalle (Vocalist)
Afro-Peruvian singer Marina Lavalle is one of the most distinctive performers in the Bay Area and one of the great voices of modern Peruvian music. An important figure in the resurgence of Afro-Peruvian music being Peru Negro Cultural Association Lead vocalist during 70s, Marina nurtures a carefully crafted blend of contemporary and traditional sounds. Accompanied by guitar, base and Peruvian cajón, she renders a soulful and vibrant interpretation of an array of rhythms in her musical heritage such as: Landó, Festejo, and Zamacueca, just to name a few.

Santiago “Coco” Linares (Guitar)
Coco Linares is a Peruvian guitarist, composer, and musical director born on October 12, 1955 in the district of San Luis, province of Cañete1. He studied classical guitar at the National Conservatory of Music for six years and was named a FAT (Early Artistic Training) level professor due to his outstanding guitar skills while still a student at the center1.

In 1978, he was invited to direct the Philharmonic Orchestra of Channel 5, presented by the renowned researcher and artist Nicomedes Santa Cruz. The same year, he won the award for Best Young Arranger1. During his tenure as musical director of Eva Ayllon, in 1993, he was a guest conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru, a historic event, as it was the first time in the history of Peruvian music that an academic director handed over the baton to a popular music director1. He was also the musical director of the first double compact disc made in Peru, Qué lindo es mi Perú, in which he directed practically all the great artists of Peruvian Creole music, such as Arturo “Zambo” Cavero, Oscar Avilés, Jesús Vásquez, Rafael Matallana, Pepe Vásquez, Cecilia Bracamonte, Cecilia Barraza, among others1. Linares has also been the musical director of other renowned Peruvian artists, such as Pepe Vásquez and Julie Freundt1.

In 2015, he was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a “Meritorious Personality of Culture”

Pedro Rosales (Cajon-vocals)

Proyecto Lando director Pedro Rosales is a renowned cajon player celebrated for his fierce, energetic playing, his expressive vocal interpretations, his sensitivity as an accompanist, and his creative and prolific compositions.

Born in Lima, Peru, Pedro discovered his passion for the cajon at the age of fourteen, taking classes with maestro Ernesto Sandoval at the Museo de Arte de Lima. By 1989, he had joined folklorist Julio Casanovas’ Tradiciones Peruanas ensemble as a percussionist. In 1992, Pedro moved to San Francisco, where he co-founded the experimental ensemble Malambo Kombo with pianist Jorge Molina. In 1995, he co-founded De Rompe y Raja Cultural Association, who released four albums under his musical direction through 2013: “El Retorno” (2001), “Diaspora Negra” (2009), children’s album “Huaranguito” (2011) and Marina Lavalle’s “Sutil” (2010). In 2009, Pedro founded Proyecto Lando, releasing a number of original compositions in collaboration with arranger Felipe Pumarada, and performing extensively throughout Northern California.

Pedro’s skills as a cajon player developed under the guidance of his mentors, master Afro-Peruvian percussionists Manuel “Manguey” Vasquez, Eusebio “Sirio” Pititi, Braulio Barrera, and “Lalo” Izquierdo (founder, choreographer, percussionist/dancer of Peru Negro Cultural Association). Pedro is honored to have accompanied many of the most celebrated Peruvian singers and artists, including Pepe Vasquez, Jesus Vasques, Luis Abanto Morales, Arturo Zambo Cavero, Oscar Aviles, Lucia de la Cruz, Lucila Campos, Peru Negro, Bartola, Jorge Luis Jasso, Manuel Donayre, Rosa Flor, Carlos Hayre and Elizabeth Panchano, among others.

Pedro is well-known in the Bay Area music scene as a collaborator, sharing his knowledge and curiosity with musicians immersed in a variety of Afro-latin traditions.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

The Annex Sessions will continue Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 6-8:30pm at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)

Rhonda Benin Trio

featuring:

Rhonda Benin – vocals

John R. Burr – keyboards

Ron Belcher – acoustic bass

Jazz, Blues, Soul, and Pop

www.rhondabenin.com

Musician Bios:

RHONDA BENIN – Vocalist, Producer, Artist Teacher

“Benin’s got a coolly hip vocal, with a bit of hush and sugar and an undercurrent of big booming power. She can bend notes with a bass, talk serenade with a piano and steam the kettle from the drums”.                                                                     Ran Pacifica Tribune

San Francisco Bay Area vocalist, Rhonda Benin has earned a reputation for not just a good voice but showmanship, magnetic stage personality, humor, and of course her great dancing.  Rhonda’s impressive resume includes performances at SF Jazz, Yoshi’s, MOAD, The Healdsburg, Sonoma, Burlingame, Sausalito, Filmore, and Calistoga Jazz Festivals.  In the summer of 2012 Rhonda traveled to Hangzhou, China for a 3 month engagement at the JZ Jazz Club and was 2014 USA headliner for The Kigali Up Music Festival in Kigali, Rwanda.  In addition to singing, Rhonda is producer and founder of the annual Women’s History Month show “Just Like A Woman” a tribute to Bay Area Women In Music. Benin is a 26 year member of The GRAMMY nominated vocal ensemble Linda Tillery and The Cultural Heritage. She appears on the CHC’s 7 Cd’s and has toured 30 countries performing and recording with legendary artists such as Taj Mahal, Wilson Pickett, Richie Havens, Odetta. Al Green, Keb Mo, Santana, Patti Austin, Janis Ian, Jackson Brown, Hugh Masekela & Sweet Honey In The Rock.

In 2006 Rhonda produced her first solo CD, A Matter of the Heart a classic mix of jazz, blues, and soul and is currently working on her 2^nd CD.

Rhonda is on the teaching staff of Healdsburg Jazz ‘s Operation Jazz Band, San Francisco Arts Project, LEAP, California Conservatory of Music, Cal Performances and conducts her own school assemblies and workshops, “The Voice, The Hands The Feet”  “Twist and Shout” and “Love Letters Make Me Misty Blue”.

JOHN R. BURR – Pianist

John R. Burr is that rare pianist who combines jazz technique with a genuine love for folk music. The Philadelphia Weekly said, “Pianist extraordinaire John R. Burr has the most sparkling style since former Allman Brother-turned-Rolling Stone hired hand Chuck Leavell.” Discology wrote, “John R. Burr ranks with the best of the elegant jazzers.”

Years of touring and recording sessions with such artists as Maria Muldaur, The Alison Brown Quartet, Paul McCandless, Michael Manring, and Kathy Kallick, and recognition including a feature spot on Windham Hill’s Piano Sampler II are a testament of his talent.

Living in the San Francisco area, John R found himself at OTR Studios often recording on other people’s albums. There he met Cookie Marenco, the engineer on those sessions. When Cookie founded Blue Coast Records, she knew it was a matter of time before John R had a recording under his own name. The first solo piano album of many to come is called Quarter Tones and displays John R’ intimate relationship with the piano.

His playing is as likely to be inspired by James Taylor or Doctor John as by Oscar Peterson or the Yellowjackets although he says it is his love of folk music that has influenced him most. compassrecords.com/artist/john-r-burr

RON BELCHER – Bassist

Bassist Ron Belcher travels the world from France to Japan and throughout the United States bringing his rhythmically buoyant, emotionally uplifting style to the stage for a wide diversity of jazz artists.

Performing or recording with such international stars as Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, Rodney Franklin, John Handy, and Pete Escovedo, as well as a literal “who’s who” of the San Francisco jazz scene, Ron has garnered a reputation as one of northern California’s first-call jazz bassists.

A passionate teacher and advocate for children’s education, Ron has served on the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, Young Musicians’ Program, and has contributed to several seasons for the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures In Music outreach program. Ron ‘s own studies include jazz improvisation and acoustic bass at several Bay Area colleges, culminating in a degree from Texas College, where he had the honor of membership in the East Texas All-Stars.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

The Annex Sessions will resume on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 6-8:30pm at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)

Javier Navarrette’s “Opening the New Year” with Featured Guests!

featuring:

Kai Lyons – Tres, Vocal

Einar “Tito” Leliebre- Percussion, vocal

Yadier Noa – Bass

Javier Navarrette- percussion, vocal

Orisha, Changuii, Latin Jazz, Rumba, Descarga!

Bios:

Kai Lyons– is a 28-year-old San Francisco native. In 2022, he became the first foreigner to win 1st prize at the international changüí festival of Guantánamo Cuba, on the Cuban guitar known as the “tres cubano”.  He was the music director of Loco Bloco, winning 1st prize in the 2022 Carnaval parade of San Francisco. He is constantly traveling the world studying ancient and obscure styles in Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Ghana and Morocco. And bringing it back to The City, to create contemporary new, fresh music with local artists. He has performed with an array of musicians including Snow Tha Product, San Francisco Philharmonic, Haitian, Cuban, Brazilian and Malian music masters, and various members of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Jazz Guitar at Cal State East Bay and teaching-artist for the San Francisco Symphony.

Einar Leliebre Nuñez – has been a lead musician with the esteemed company Danza del Caribe in Santiago de Cuba since 2003. He also plays and sings with Obbatuke, Grupo Barracón (by Luca Brandoli), has collaborated with Oyu Oro (led by Danys “La Mora” Perez) in New York, Manana Cuba in Cuba, England, Spain and Scotland and many more. He has participated in many national festivals such as the Olorun Festival, the Romerías de Mayo, the Jornada de la Cultura Iberoamericana, as well as national tours. He can be invited or hired to perform (singing and percussion) for events and remotely, lead percussion sections, give individual or group instruction in song and drumming, mount music with musical groups and dance productions, and construct Bata drums by hand.  He is versed in the Folkloric music of Cuba, Rumba, religious music, and experimental collaborations with electronic and jazz styles. Visit this page or contact us for more information.

Yadier Noa Chamble –  is a bass player from Camagüey Cuba. He has had the opportunity to play with some of the best bands and musicians from the island, including Yasek Manzano, Boby Carcasef, Orlando Sanchez (Cubajazz), Orlando Valle (Maraca), Alfred Thompson and Caribbean Ensemble, Paulo FG y su Elite, Los Primos Jazz Project, Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina, Azúcar Negra, and Tania Pantoja. Since moving to California, he has played with Orquesta Borinquen, Jamie Dubberly, Jesus Dias & Qba, Trio Mulatos, Orquesta Tainos, Orquesta NRumba, and La Moderna at the famed Yoshi’s in Oakland. He has performed at the Redwood City Salsa Festival, Hayward Latin Jazz Festival, Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival in Castro Valley, Berkeley Jazz Festival, and Berkeley Salsa Festival. He has also traveled to Canada and performed at the Halifax Jazz Festival. Yadier attended the National School of Music (EÑA), in Havana, Cuba, and subsequently taught bass there as a professor for 2 years. He is currently a bass professor at Community Music Center in San Francisco.

Javier Navarrette – is a professional percussionist, musician, composer, arranger and educator living in Oakland, California, specializing in Afro-Caribbean music. Javier’s performance and recording career spans over three decades. He has played and studied with many of the greats in the Afro-Latin music tradition, and has recorded on three Grammy-nominated albums with John Santos and the Machete Ensemble/ Folklorico Kindembo.

Javier teaches music in public/private schools and in adult workshops. For the past 10 years, Javier has been teaching with Living Jazz Children’s Music Project in the Oakland public schools and at the summer Jam Camp for Children.

Amongst Javier’s groups are Javier Navarrette’s Latin Jazz Trio and Javier Navarrette’s Socially Distant Friends.

In 2021-22, coming out of the pandemic, Javier produced Modúpue Sundays with Arts at the Basin, Brooklyn Basin, Oakland. He currently produces the Neighborhood Sessions at The Annex in El Cerrito, and a pilot program at the Alameda Radium Runway Project, presenting the Bay Area’s legendary musicians in the Afro-Latin music tradition.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

El Tren Quartet:

Julio Pérez – percussion
Carlos Caro – percussion
Saul Sierra – bass
Marco Diaz – piano

With roots in Mexico. Cuba, Puerto Rico and US-Guatemala, El Tren quartet has been performing together for over twenty years. Their musical range captures music styles from the late 1800’s to their modern day composition and arrangements of Latin American and American Classics.

Julio Perez: Conga

Born in Puerto Rico, Julio Perez shares a long history with other band members Marco Diaz, Saul Sierra, and Carlos Caro making music in the San Francisco Bay Area and also when he visits home in Puerto Rico. Julio plays all the percussion instruments with precision and feeling, and from memory as well, since he lost his sight as a young boy. Julio brings great musicianship and great friendship to VibraSON and co-stars in a number of other productions around the area including concerts by Bobi Cespedes, John Santos, Marco Diaz and other local bands.

Carlos Caro: Percussion

Carlos Caro, originally from Cuba, has a long and distinguished career in music. He has played with many other great musicians as one of the best percussionists in the world. Carlos plays with a number of Salsa bands in the Bay Area, including his own band called Vission Latina. He also is a great instructor for aspiring musicians, and a 2014 GRAMMY® Award Winning percussionist.

A native of Havana, Cuba. Born on August 13 on 1967. Carlos Caro was musically educated throughout his youth, graduating from the Alejandro Garcia Cultural Conservatory in Havana and the ENIA (National School of Arts Instructors), after which he began his professional career with the group “Clave.”

He has performed on tour with and has recorded for some of Cuba’s biggest names in music including Paulo Fernandez Gallo and Jackeline Castellano’s best selling “La Dama Del Son”Caro immigrated to Mexico City in 1993 where he was commissioned to record and perform a work in the Danzon style with the Mexico City Philharmonic.

He then appeared on the West Coast music scene in 1996 to quickly become one of the most sought-after Latin percussionists, simultaneously playing in the best Cubano, Salsa, and Latin Rock bands throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Carlos Caro released his first album with Vission Latina and the second one in April of 2010. Music from this CD was recently chosen for a movie soundtrack!

Saùl Sierra-Alonso: Bass

Saùl Sierra-Alonso has played with many of the Latin bands in the Bay Area and studied at the famous Berklee School of Music in Boston. Saùl has worked extensively in the Salsa and Latin music scene and offers great expertise and musical experience.

Saúl Sierra Born and raised in Mexico City, where he started playing professionally in 1990. He moved to Boston Mass. in 1995 and attended the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in the summer of 1999, with a major in Performance. Some of his teachers included Oscar Stagnaro, Rich Appleman, Daniel Morris, and Jim Stinnet. He received the US Scholarship tour award and the Outstanding Performer award at Berklee.

As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area since the fall of 1999, Saúl has performed, toured or recorded with Nestor Torres, Jimmy Bosh, Eddie Montalvo, Johny Rodríguez, Orestes Vilató, Bobi Céspedes, Antonio Sánchez, Miles Peña, John Santos, Jesús Díaz, Rebeca Mauleón, Mark Levine, Greg Landau, Mike Spiro, Jackeline Rago, Chuchito Valdez, Alexander Livinali, Wayne Wallace, Aquiles Baez, Marco Granados, Anthony Blea, Doug Beavers, and María Márquez, among others.

For the past 10 years Saúl has been a member of some of the leading bands in the Bay Area, including The John Santos Quintet/Sextet, Bobi Cespedes’ band, Dr. Loco’s Rocking Jalapeño Band, El Tren Trío, Anthony Blea y su Charanga, The Snake Trío, Jesús Díaz y su QBA, The Bay Area Afro-Cuban All Stars, The Venezuelan Music Project, Corazón Sur, and Sababa band.

A founding member of Vission Latina, the band that he co-leads with Carlos Caro, percussionist extraordinaire, and Marco Díaz, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist (piano/trumpet ), Saúl keeps himself busy performing, composing, arranging and teaching in the world class musical community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Marco Diaz: Piano

Marco Diaz was born and raised in San Francisco and was introduced to the trumpet in the fourth grade at E.R. Taylor Elementary School. His formal training in both piano and trumpet began at the age of 14. He earned a scholarship from the Community Music Center in San Francisco, and began playing professionally at the age of 17 throughout the Bay Area with various Latin Jazz, Salsa, Reggae, and R&B bands. Upon graduating from high school, he continued his studies at San Francisco State University pursing a Bachelors of Arts in Popular Music and a minor in Economics.

In addition to his studies Marco has been influenced by Afro-Cuban music through world renowned musicians, such as, Jesus Diaz, who he played and recorded with for eight years, John Santos, Orestes Vilato, Edgardo Cambon, and Carlos Caro.

Today, Marco is part of the faculty at the Community Music Center in San Francisco and has been a part of the SFJAZZ teaching artist program since 2017. He is an accomplished recording musician who has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning artist, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Nelson Gonzales, Jimmy Bosch, Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ska Cubano (Europe), Tito Rojas, Nino Segarra, Anthony Cruz, Anthony Blea, Jovino Santos Neto, Joe Santiago, and is an integral member of the John Santos sextet, and the musical director for Bobi Cespedes.  Marco has participated in the San Francisco Symphony AIM program since 2000 and currently produces records and performs music throughout the country while also co-leading Vission Latina, an Afro-Caribbean dance band, and director of his own quartet, The Marco Diaz Quartet.

In 2011, Marco Diaz was part of the faculty at Jazz Camp West. He toured the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State with Bobi Cespedes, teaching children and adults the roots of Afro-Cuban music. Marco also performed at the San Francisco, Tanglewood, and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and the Smithsonian Museum with world renowned ethno-musicologist, John Santos and his Sextet. In the Fall, Marco began his ninth season with the San Francisco Symphony’s AIM (adventures in music) program.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023, 6-8:30pm will continue our music series held at El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex (The Annex)  – “The Annex Sessions”

“Cuero y Cuerdas” is a duo composed of two of the most active and prolific Latin Musicians in the Bay Area.

Bolivian born Gabriel Navia on Guitar/vocals and Percusionist/vocalist Edgardo Cambón a native of Uruguay.

Both multiple recording artists are deeply immersed in many Latin styles from South America, the Caribbean, Europe and North America.

The repertoire spans from Spanish Flamenco forms, to Afro Cuban Son, Boleros, Cha-Cha-Cha, Guaracha, Uruguayan Candombe, and opens up at times to more contemporary rhythms and Jazz, as well as an occasional original composition.

“Cuero y Cuerdas” translated as “Skins and Strings” says it all!

Edgardo Cambón

Born in Montevideo, Edgardo Cambón is a Percussionist, Vocalist, Educator and Band Leader with over 36 years of professional experience. A much in demand musician in the U.S.A, he has performed or recorded with artist like Jesús “Chucho” Valdés, Eddie Palmieri, Santana, Jerry Rivera, Eddie Santiago, Keith Terry, Omar Sosa, Andy Narell, Rebeca Mauleón, Giovanni Hidalgo, Eddie Montalvo and Johny Rodriguez among many others. He is an LP (Latin Percussion) instruments endorser and has traveled worldwide as an LP clinician.

Since 1986 he leads on Congas and lead Vocals the acclaimed Salsa Band “Candela,” with four recordings available of mainly his own compositions.

Gabriel Navia

Born into a musical family, Gabriel Navia is an artist, producer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. He has collaborated on two albums nominated for the Latin Grammys. (“Piano & Charango” and “Carnaval in Piano Charango” by artists Chuchito Valdes and Eddy Navia.)

​Gabriel is one of the most foremost exponents of Latin music in the Bay Area, combining Latin music with flamenco, jazz, and contemporary sounds with a unique style.

​He started his professional music career as a charango player, touring and recording with the Andean music band Sukay at the age of eleven. Led by his father Eddy Navia.

He has continued working on stage and in the recording studio with artist such as Chuchito Valdes, Eddy Navia, Fito Reinoso, Daniel Fries (Gabo & Daniel), Wayne Wallace, Jack Douglas, Richard Howell, Charlie Musselwhite, Orestes Vilato, Karl Perazzo, John Santos, Calixto Oviedo, Marc Van Wageningen, Joe Craven, Jeff Massanari, Colin Douglas, Netta Brielle, Edgardo Cambon (Candela), Sandy Perez (Muñequitos de Matanzas), Fogo Na roupa, Los Kjarkas, Willy Claure, Grillo Villegas, Savia Andina, Melecio Magdaluyo, Fernando Jimenez, Carlos Caro, John Calloway, Greg Sudmier, Georges Lammam (Hola Yallah a Latin Arabia duo), Sukay, Diablo Ballet and the San Francisco Symphony among others.

A post-graduate from Conservatori Del Liceu de Barcelona. He has also studied with great masters from Bolivia, Cuba, Spain and the U.S. After attending the Instituto Eduardo Laredo in Cochabamba, Bolivia and the School of the Arts of San Francisco, California, he went on to attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Jazz School of Berkley CA and in 2002 he received Outstanding Musician Awards at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. In 2007 he also received a scholarship from Fundación Carolina to do a music postgraduate with flamenco master Manuel Granados at the Conservatori Del Liceu de Barcelona.

The Natural Grocery Company is proud to present this series in partnership with SunJams and Javier Navarrette Music Productions.

SunJams is committed to funding children’s music education in underserved public elementary schools. Your donation will help support this ongoing program.

All of the proceeds will go directly to our network of local musicians, each of whom have been severely impacted by the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you donate $10, $100, or $1000 – any amount helps and will allow us to keep bringing music to our community! As always, your donation to SunJams 501(c)3 may qualify as tax exempt.

Javier Navarrette Music Productions continues to bring live music to several venues around the Bay Area. Javier has been a professional musician and music educator in the Oakland Unified School District for the past 20 years. Over the past few years Navarrette has produced outdoors events that have proven instrumental in enabling musicians to deal with some of the fallout of the pandemic and shutdown that followed.

COVID RELATED SAFETY MEASURES

Please be safe. Feel free to wear a mask if you prefer.

TICKETS

Tickets are NOT required for this venue, you can simply come in, order food and beverages at the Annex counter and pay at the registers.