What is E Music you ask? It could have emanated from Pete Escovedo’s Mexican born father. Or perhaps from listneing to latin dance bands such as Machito and Tito Puente. Or even again when in high school (McClymonds in Oakland) he put down his saxophone to learn latin percussion at the request of a friend with a Latin dance band and eventually become efficient enough to land a job with the popular Benny Velarde’s band. Then again, maybe it is when the Escovedo Brothers were formed with brothers Coke and Phillip. How about when Pete and Coke formed the first of its kind group (rock/funk, jazz, latin) AZTECA which was signed by Columbia Records in 1972 with the sound and caliber of musicians that Pete would eventually adopt as his particular trademark. Maybe it is in the early 1980s when Pete recorded with his daughter Sheila E. Eventually sons Juan and Peter Michael would join the “E Train,” so there is yet another dimension.
On August 12, 2006 at the 10 p.m. show at Yoshis, the Pete Escovedo Orchestra walked on stage to the taped song recoreded on the first AZTECA album, La Piedra Del Sol (written by New York based musicians Tom Harrell and Lenny White) and timed their entrance so that by the time Pete took his place behind his timbales, the musicians began playing the aforementioned song without missing a beat.
It was in 1972, when the lineup of musicians selected by Pete and Coke, that now reads like a who?s who list of cats, opened up the ears of everyone within listening distance in the world. Dig: Flip Nu?ez, organ; George Muribus, electric piano; George DiQuattro, acoustic piano/clavinet; Paul Jackson, electric/acoustic bass; Lenny White, drums; Victor Pantoja, congas; Mel Martin, tenor, soprano, baritone saxophone and flute/piccolo; Tom Harrell, trumpet; Jim Vincent and Neal Schon, guitar; Jules Rowell, trombone. This ensemble was held in such high regard by Columbia Records that Earth, Wind and Fire was the opening act!
In 2006, Pete’s lineup is no less impressive with the likes of Cary Lojan, trombone; Arturo Velasco, trombone; Mario Gonzalez, trumpet; Salvatore Graziolo, trumpet; Justo Almario, saxophone/flute; Oskar Cartaya (musical director for the Latin Grammies), electric bass; Joe Rotundi, piano (all Southern CA based); Ray Obiedo (long time musical associate of Pete’s from the East Bay), guitar, Pete’s sons Juan on congas and Peter Michael on traps (drums). After the introductory song, the orchestra dug into Ray Obiedo’s “True or False,” inspired by Ray’s searing, funky solo that led and drove the musicians into a different groove from its opening lines. Joe Rotundi switched from acoustic piano to a plugged in Roland RD-500 for his tasteful solo followed by Juan Escovedo’s energized turn, while the entire orchestra swung to an Afro/Cuban 6/8 time. Father and sons took the tune out percussively, all the while chanting as if celebrating a Santeria ceremony. Funk opening with a latin soul foundation. Tasteful sosos to a chanting/percussion ending. E Music.
A Ray Barretto original (La Cu?a) that is a favorite of Pete’s allowed Joe Rotundi to set the tone and most of the musicians to strut their stuff. Ray Barretto and Tito Puente were both from the school that if the music didn’t make you feel like dancing, you weren’t doing it right. Pete Escovedo is from that same school.? Pete Kelley’s Blues? was a tribute to Cal Tjader, a mentor and friend to Pete.
In what was supposed to be the concluding song of the evening, “Whatcha Gonna Do” (Mel Martin, Paul Jackson, music/Pete Escovedo, Errol Knowles, lyrics) from the second (and final) AZTECA album morphed its way into a brief version of “Hang on Sloopy” with onstage frivolity. In thanking the audience for helping him celebrate his 71st birthday, it is worth noting that Pete Escovedo has always given his audiences the very epitome of class, style (his musicians are always dressed in suits and ties), and level of professionalism (never late for a performance and always well rehearsed) that is not always experienced in this day and age.
The audience was not ready to let Pete retire for the evening as per their sustained applause and shouting, so the orchestra came back on stage for an encore. Even Pete’s wife of 50 years, Juanita, joined the festivities on vocals and gourd on the kick off your shoes dance tune “Sonerito.” Feliz cumplea?os (Happy Birthday) Pete and thank you for E Music.
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