MAS Magazine / 5 - 4 - 2007

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MAY 4, 2007 Volume 2, Issue 34

www.masbakersfield.com P.0. BOX 2344, Bakersfield, Ca 93303

C U LT U R E • P R I D E • C O M M U N I T Y

Return to P.0. BOX 2344 Bakersfield, Ca 93308

Jazzed about Poncho Big plans for Chavez Center Cancer support goes bilingual

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Contents COVER STORY

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ON THE WEB

5 7 8-9 10-11

Drummer Poncho Sanchez to get Jazz Fest on right beat

Hear it, see it, blog it, even watch a MÁS Web newscast

HEALTH

Bilingual component leads to more patients finding needed support

MI VIDA

Event to honor Cesar Chavez, launch plans for Keene center

GENTE

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8-9

May 4, 2007

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10-11

What a weekend! Check out some photos from local events

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Honoring those who take those extra steps to help crime victims

16 ENTERTAINMENT 17 CLASSIFIEDS 19-22 ENTERTAINMENT In the Mixx with Noe G.

Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?

Use our calendar to plan the fiesta Buy, sell and hire

Did You Know?

General Manager

Delia Carson

Central Valley Hispanics have lower cancer rates

New cases and deaths from cancer in the Central Valley per 100,000 population, 1999-2003: 500

Cases Deaths

400 300 200 100 0

All races

White

Source: Cancer Surveillance Program

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Black

Hispanic

Asian/ Pac. Islander

dcarson@masbakersfield.com 716-8632

Managing Editor

Olivia Garcia ogarcia@masbakersfield.com 716-8644

Editorial / Advertising 716-8640 Más is a new weekly magazine focused on Hispanic people, style, culture and issues in Kern County. Más is a publication of Mercado Nuevo, LLC, a subsidiary of The Bakersfield Californian.The Más name and logo design are trademarks of Mercado Nuevo and cannot be used without the company’s permission. For questions or for more information about Más or other publications of Mercado Nuevo, contact us: Mercado Nuevo LLC P.O. Box 2344 Bakersfield, CA 93303; (661) 716-8640 www.mercadonuevocorp.com or masbakersfield.com

C OV E R

STO RY

The Poncho

Punch COURTESY PHOTO

Latin conguero went from listening to jazz greats on records to drumming up hit albums himself

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B Y

M A T T

M U Ñ O Z

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Conguero Poncho Sanchez remembers anxiously bringing home his first set of conga drums as a barrio teenager growing up in Norwalk, Calif.

Proud, but a bit daunted, the aspiring musician stared at the instruments, not knowing whether to play with them or continue admiring them from across the room after splitting the $134 cost with his father. Sanchez had saved up his share during his freshman year in high school.

“My dad bought one, and I bought one,” said Sanchez during a recent phone interview with MÁS from his home in Southern California. “They were a cheap brand from Mexico, but I eye-balled those things at the pawn shop everyday after school. When we finally

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brought them home, I said, ‘Well here they are, now what am I gonna do with these things?’ I had no idea.”

It’s been quite some time since that fateful purchase. And now, 30 years later, the man now known as “El Conguero,” is a bona fide jazz icon, who

S T A F F

inspires others as a mentor and an exciting performer.

Bakersfield jazz fans will get their chance to see Sanchez when he brings his signature brand of fiery Latin jazz to headline the 21st annual CSUB Jazz Festival May 11 at the CSUB outdoor amphitheater, along with co-headliner, vocalist Diane Schurr.

The youngest of 11 children, Sanchez was born Oct. 30, 1951 in the U.S. border town of Laredo, Texas. With a large family in tow, his parents decided to move to Norwalk when Sanchez was 3 years old.

Coming from a working-class background himself, Sanchez’s father put in long hours, making sure the family was provided with the necessities of life.

“We never had much money,” said Sanchez. “We had food and the clothes on our back, but we couldn’t afford toys

COURTESY PHOTO

Poncho Sanchez and his band headline the 21st Annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival May 11 and 12 at the CSUB Amphitheater. or gifts. We had to get that from neighbors’ hand-me-downs.”

But music was one thing the family had plenty of, and with a houseful of siblings, the sounds were eclectic — soon becoming a point of influence and joyful refuge during Sanchez’s youth.

“The way I learned about music was from my brothers and sisters, I had all their records — Machito, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, and Cal Tjader,” he said. “I liked the sound of the congas. We always had the radio on, too, and I heard rhythm and blues, gospel and straight-ahead jazz.”

Listing primarily Latin jazz artists from a music collection that strongly impacted his taste in songs, Sanchez also used the records as learning tools, listening and imitating the sounds of the drums in his family garage, committed to bringing to life the sound he yearned.

“I went into the garage with my Cal Tjader records. I tuned one conga high, and one low, because they were both the same size” he said. “Usually, you have a higher-pitched conga, and then a tumba, which is lower-pitched.

I was trying to get the sound of the drums that I heard on the records, and I couldn’t figure out how they did it.”

Practicing frustratingly for five days as he searched for the perfect sound, or “sweet spot” of the conga, referring to the location on the drum head where the distinctive slap or “popping” sound resonates, Sanchez finally made progress after literally beating the drum out of anger.

“I tried to get that sound off the

records,” he to Rican. I told 21 st Annual Bakersfield said, imitating him, ‘No, I’m the drum tones Chicano.’ Then Jazz Festival he would eventuhe said, ‘Chially find. “Finalcanos can’t play,’ ■ CSUB Outdoor Amphitheater, 9000 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311 ly I hit it and and gave me a said, ‘(Expledirty look.”

■ Friday, May 11, 7 p.m.

• Friday advance tickets are $23 for tive)’ and it went Taken aback students and $32 for general admission.

POP! And there by such a com■ Saturday, May 12, 2 p.m. it was!” ment, it only • Saturday advance tickets are $25 for Self-taught fueled Sanchez’s students and $35 for general admission. and without any fire to show the ■ For general information also call 322-5200 formal music lesgroup what he ■ www.bakersfieldjazz.com sons, Sanchez could do on the continued to drums. learn by seeking One day, while out the professionals performing patiently waiting until one drummer around Southern California. Attenwalked away during one of the park tively watching the techniques by jams, Sanchez immediately jumped in conga masters like Mongo Santaand began soloing. Sanchez recalls maria, who frequented The Lightbreaking down the wall of separation house — a club in Hermosa Beach — between the cultures right then and Sanchez would also attend communithere. ty jam sessions at Griffith Park in “As soon as I started playing, those L.A., where Puerto Rican and Cuban Puerto Rican and Cuban drummers drummers gathered every Sunday to said ‘Yeah, yeah, man,’ and I kept play a variety of styles including the playing for about 15 minutes,” he rumba and guaganco rhythms for said. “After I was done, one of the guys says, ‘Your father must be hours on end.

Cuban, or your mother must be PuerBy this time, with a few years of to Rican. I responded, laughing, ‘No, playing in garage bands under his they’re from Mexico!’” belt and many hours of practice, Another pivotal point in Sanchez’s Sanchez’s confidence was building. career was meeting jazz vibraphonist, But, being a Chicano kid from the the late Cal Tjader, with whom barrio in the middle of well-versed Sanchez performed from 1975 until Carribean drummers, the experience his death on May 5, 1982, during a was eye-opening to say the least, performance in Manila, the Philipaccording to Sanchez. pines. The guidance, care and lessons “I went up to the guys playing and given by Tjader to Sanchez remain asked them if I could sit in,” he said. strong to this day.

“He asked me if I was Cuban or Puer-

“Cal taught me a lot of things, especially about business,” Sanchez said.

“He would tell me that it wasn’t easy ... that I’ve got to learn to roll with the punches. At first, I didn’t understand, that is, until I started my own band.”

Signing with Concord Picante records in 1983, the Poncho Sanchez Latin jazz ensemble have gone on to release more than 22 recordings, including the Grammy-award winning “Latin Soul” in 1999. Now, Sanchez returns with his latest CD “Raise Your Hand,” to be released May 22.

Having worked in the past with such legends as Ray Charles, Celia Cruz, Dizzy Gillespie and Tower of Power, Sanchez has again rounded up another group of soul and jazz favorites on his latest musical offering.

“I invited Booker T and The MG’s, Maceo Parker from the James Brown band, and Eddie Floyd,” said Sanchez, who joins Floyd for a Latinized version of Floyd’s soul standard, “Knock on Wood.”

Apparently unable to grasp the notion that his records are a source of inspiration for other future congueros — just as his family’s album collection was for him — Sanchez humbly considers himself the barrio kid from Norwalk, raised with a reverence for his roots.

“I find all this success is a little hard to believe, even when you’ve worked hard all your life, built up your style and following,” he said.

“Most importantly, you’ve gotta respect your people. I learned that from Cal Tjader and my parents.”

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