Buddy Blue's Blue Notes column in Night and Day clued us in on the mix-implications,

"If this seems a musical and cultural clash of epic proportions, that's cuz it surely is. The funky, sultry, hotblooded music of Sanchez blending with the lush, smooth strains of a symphony orchestra and a group of scary-looking Latino jazz cats performing for pinkies-up, Eurocentric highbrow types could prove to be a match made either in heaven or hell. However it turns out, the results should be quite interesting on at least one level or another."

I'll include the full review text at the end, until I hear different from the UT on their policy of removing archives from their site (and it's about customer service... you don't have to go somewhere else to read the article).

More info on the Signon Diego Site and what looks like an North County Times anticipatory look at what's coming up the freeway today.

As promised, here's the whole Buddy Blue Promo... Sanchez says a cup of percolating rhythm is what you need

OK, I could try to BS my way through an analytical discourse regarding the subtle, polyrhythmic nuances produced when Poncho Sanchez smacks the beejeeziz out of a drum with his bare hands, but I won't venture it. The fact is, if a guy is an accomplished conguero, he pretty much sounds fine to me.

I can tell a lame percussionist from a good one without breaking a sweat (the lame one will give you a headache every time), but I couldn't discern the work of Sanchez from, say, an Armando Peraza or a Giovanni Hidalgo just by hearing them play, not in a million years.

I admit this of my own free will. I can tell you this, however: The magnificent muse of Sanchez and his Latin jazz band will make you quiver with delight whether you're a lover of hot licks, percolating rhythm and jaunty arrangements or just want to dance and feel all squinchy and alive.

Sanchez and company have been doing quite well for themselves in recent years, as Latin jazz has seemed to gain a more popular footing around the globe. It wasn't always thus: Not so very long ago, most Americans' exposure to Latin rhythm was limited to the hybridized sounds of such rock or pop acts as Santana, Selena and Ricky Martin, artists whom Sanchez and other traditional Latin roots purists openly disdain.

"I never liked that stuff," Sanchez once told me. "I like Carlos Santana as a person and I know him very well, but I still don't care for his music. That's rock music and I'm not into rock music, I'm into hardcore jazz and I'm into authentic Latin music. I can't stand all that pop salsa that you hear today, all that bubblegum, pretty boy stuff. If that's what people like, then fine, but don't try to tell me it's happening stuff, because I know my music well."

It so happens that I, myself, am among those who enjoy Santana (well, the original group at least) a whole bunch, but I wouldn't tell Sanchez that to his face, as he's a large person who looks as if he might enjoy thwacking about people who disagree with him. In fact, his whole band resembles outlaw bikers more than jazz musicians.

Herein lies the bewilderment of three local Sanchez concerts this week; Poncho 'n' de boyz appear tomorrow and Saturday night at Copley Symphony Hall downtown, and Sunday afternoon at Escondido Center for the Arts, Escondido with the ... San Diego Symphony. Say what?

If this seems a musical and cultural clash of epic proportions, that's cuz it surely is. The funky, sultry, hotblooded music of Sanchez blending with the lush, smooth strains of a symphony orchestra and a group of scary-looking Latino jazz cats performing for pinkies-up, Eurocentric highbrow types could prove to be a match made either in heaven or hell. However it turns out, the results should be quite interesting on at least one level or another.

 Buddy Blue is a San Diego musician, writer and all-around curmudgeon. His Blue Notes column runs weekly in Night&Day.
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