Arts & Entertainment
Los Gatos Brings Latin Jazz
Los Gatos Brings Latin Jazz
Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
To First Presbyterian Church of Farmington
Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
(For immediate release) First Presbyterian Church of Farmington inaugurates its sixth season of Great Performances in a Sacred Space with the Latin-infused stylings of the acclaimed jazz ensemble “Los Gatos” on Sunday, September 16 at 4:00 PM.
Founded by percussionist Pete Siers in 1997, Los Gatos was a regular house band at Ann Arbor’s Firefly Club until the venue closed in 2009. All of its members of the band are music educators dedicated to sharing their love of Afro-Cuban jazz with as many audiences as possible. The band includes Pete Siers (timbales and percussion), Cary Kocher (vibes), Kurt Krahnke (bass), Brian Di Blassio (piano) and Al Di Blassio (congas/vocals/percussion). They have released two CDs, Cat’s Got Your Tongue? and Insight.
Making the afternoon a truly unforgettable Latin jazz experience will be a special performance by two professional salsa dance instructors, Ashleigh Alarcon and Ramon Robles, from the Dance Pavilian in Ypsilanti.
Los Gatos began as a hip, quintet in the cool jazz mode, not a dance machine. Siers, already a journeyman drummer in his twenties by the time he heard bandleader Tito Puente’s landmark “Dancemania” records, moved from his native Saginaw to Ann Arbor and started to tap the deep pool of musical talent available there. “I didn’t want to do the traditional salsa combination, with a front line of horns,” Siers said. “I concert, call 248-474-6170, ext. 208.
was smitten by the old school, small group sound — a lot more jazz influence.” It’s a unique approach, one Siers describes as “low volume, high intensity.”
No tickets are required for this outstanding event, which is open to the public. A donation of $10 per person or $25 per family is suggested. First Presbyterian Church is located at 26165 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, just east of the intersection of Eleven Mile and Farmington Roads. Ample free parking is available on site, and the entire facility is barrier free and handicap accessible.
Further details about the Performing Arts Series at First Presbyterian Church of Farmington are available at the church’s website, www.farmington-pres.org.
For more information: Dr. Gerald Custer
First Presbyterian Church of Farmington
248-474-6170, extension 208
