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Grammy Nominee Sammy Figueroa Appearing at Berkeley's la Pea Cultural Center

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Grammy nominee and one of the world's premier Latin jazz bands Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion appearing at Berkeley's La Pea Cultural Center

Long known as one of the world's great players, percussionist Sammy Figueroa has performed and recorded with artists such as Miles Davis, the Brecker Brothers, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, and John McLaughlan.

Saturday September 13, 8 pm.
$16 adv. $18 at the door
La Pea Cultural Ctr.
3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley
510-849-2568

On tour from Miami, Florida, two-time Grammy Nominee, percussionist Sammy Figueroa is considered to be one of the great musicians of the world. He has played with jazz luminaries such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, the Brecker Brothers (for 12 years!), Michel Camilo and many others. As one of the world's premier sideman he has recorded and performed with Mariah Carey (featured on her million-selling MTV Unplugged), Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Blues Traveller, Ashford and Simpson, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan and countless other pop, r& b and jazz stars.

In 2001 Sammy founded his band, the Latin Jazz Explosion, one of the most dynamic and inventive Latin jazz groups around, performing for enthusiastic crowds from Puerto Rico to Chicago. Their first two album releases, “...and Sammy Walked In" (with a title track written by Michel Camilo in honor of Sammy) and “The Magician", (both on Savant Records) both received Grammy Nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album, in 2005 and 2007.

In addition to his work with his own band, Sammy is also playing with some of Europe's most innovative producers and deejays. He has been featured on two albums by Viennese electronic superstars dZihan & Kamien, most notably the track “Stiff Jazz" which has been heard on 'Sex In The City' and was the demo music for Mac PowerBooks. Sammy is a mainstay with the David Letterman Band, most recently appearing on Letterman in 2007 with Ben E. King. Sammy is also a radio personality. His show “Latin Jazz Quarter", every Friday afternoon on 88.9 FM Serious Jazz Radio in Miami, Florida is one of the station's most popular.

In addition to his virtuosity on various percussion instruments, Sammy is known for his warm personality and ebullient humor. As an endorser of Pearl Percussion, Vic Firth sticks and Shure microphones, he is sought after for his clinics, master classes and private lessons. Surely Sammy's brilliance shines through all of his musical efforts.

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