For Los Angeles percussionist Pete Escovedo, music has always been a family affair.
The Northern California native first made his mark with his siblings Coke and Phil in the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Band, a sextet that expanded the West Coast Afro-Cuban sound pioneered by Cal Tjader.
Along with his brother Coke (who passed away in 1986), he went on to found the seminal Latino rock band Azteca in 1970, though Pete reached a much larger audience touring and recording with Santana in the mid-'70s.
During his three decades as a bandleader, Escovedo has continued to draw on his clan's deep pool of talent. Opening a four-night run with his orchestra on Thursday at Jazz Alley, Escovedo will be joined by two of his four children, a potent percussion section tandem featuring his son Juan Escovedo and daughter Sheila E (who gained fame through her collaboration with Prince during his “Purple Rain" heyday).
The Northern California native first made his mark with his siblings Coke and Phil in the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Band, a sextet that expanded the West Coast Afro-Cuban sound pioneered by Cal Tjader.
Along with his brother Coke (who passed away in 1986), he went on to found the seminal Latino rock band Azteca in 1970, though Pete reached a much larger audience touring and recording with Santana in the mid-'70s.
During his three decades as a bandleader, Escovedo has continued to draw on his clan's deep pool of talent. Opening a four-night run with his orchestra on Thursday at Jazz Alley, Escovedo will be joined by two of his four children, a potent percussion section tandem featuring his son Juan Escovedo and daughter Sheila E (who gained fame through her collaboration with Prince during his “Purple Rain" heyday).
