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02/10 Sunday

7:00 PM Grupo los Santos (7 PM)/FunkHouse (8:30 PM)

Hailing from New York City, Grupo los Santos have been defining and refining their sound since coming together in 1998 to workshop the substance of the Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and New York City Jazz traditions. Tenor saxophonist Paul Carlon, guitarist Pete Smith, bassist Dave Ambrosio, and drummer William “Beaver” Bausch contribute equally and authoritatively to the vibrant group interplay that defines the distinct Santos sound. No less an elder than late great trombonist/composer Juan Pablo Torres gave his blessing to Grupo los Santos’ originality and unique interpretations of the classic Cuban traditions. The band has also worked with the folkloric rumba group Clave y Guaguancó, as well as members of the famed los Muñequitos de Matanzas, combining jazz, tap, and Cuban rumba. Grupo los Santos just released their second CD, Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea (What We Are What Will Be), with a triumphant performance Jan. 7th at the Jazz Standard in New York. Featuring ten original compositions, the new release includes forays into Brazilian and Flamenco styles as well continuing to probe the rumba-, timba-, and son-influenced Cuban roots music the group is so enamored of.

“The entire group is at top peak performance, and their sound is flawless. Each song will be a favorite with different listeners.” --Lee Prosser, JazzReview.com

Websites: www.grupolossantos.com, www.myspace.com/grupolossantos

John Funkhouser’s trio FunkHouse is a funky, progressive jazz piano trio, based in Boston. The trio consists of John Funkhouser (piano), Greg Loughman (acoustic bass) and Mike Connors (drums). Their music blends modern jazz, funk, blues, and European and American folk music. Listeners may recognize the influences of Medeski, Martin and Wood, Ornette Coleman, Frank Zappa and Stravinsky. As pianist Kenny Werner put it, the band is “definitely onto something special.” Beyond its numerous performances in the Boston area, FunkHouse has mounted two national tours, performing in nineteen cities, including New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Kansas City, and Denver. As a sideman, John Funkhouser has shared the stage with such luminaries as Grammy nominees Luciana Souza and Tierney Sutton, fifteen-year-old piano savant Matt Savage, Steve Gadd, Ran Blake, Herb Pomeroy, and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra. He has been featured as a soloist with New England Philharmonic Orchestra and with the MIT Wind Ensemble, and has toured the world.