On Friday, April 21, SSB headlines Blake’s on Telegraph in Berkeley (2367 Telegraph) with a 9PM show. The landmark club — whose stellar reputation began decades ago as one of the Bay Area’s top jazz;blues spots — is now the East Bay’s premiere destination for contemporary music. SSB jumps to San Francisco on Sunday, April 23 for an 8PM set at famed Cafe du Nord in the Upper Market district (2170 Market St.). One of the city’s hippest live music venues, the club is located in the historic Swedish-American building. Both dates are prime opportunities to catch Salvador and crew warm up at intimate, home-base hotspots in anticipation of stadium and arena sized crowds in Europe.
That itinerary begins April 30 with a concert at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, when the SSB will max out their high-energy fusion of hip-hop, jazz, Latin, rock and blues for thousands of fans. They’ll continue on tour as show opener for Carlos Santana and the Santana Band for a total of 22 dates. Countries on the schedule also include: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K. — including May 12-13 at London’s Wembley Arena — France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.
The 2006 tour marks the second time that SSB has been the support act for
Santana’s European dates — they first did so in 2004. The experience of touring
live is what Salvador loves most. “Being onstage is an incredible adrenaline
rush,” he says. “It’s almost euphoric. I feel that my awareness is broadened,
and it’s where I can be my best.”
SSB formed in 2004, and their spirited flow and deep grooves are alive with
bandleader, keyboardist, vocalist and composer Salvador Santana’s diverse
musical influences.
In addition to headlining their own shows and supporting Santana, SSB has also toured with Ozomatli and Los Lonely Boys, among others. The line-up also includes Emerson Cárdenas (bass), Carla Holbrook (vocals), Matt Heulitt (guitar), Tony Austin (drums) and former Ozomatli player José “Crunchy” Espinosa (sax, flute, vocals).
Their five-song demo;debut EP, featuring three original cuts plus SSB reinventions of two Billy Cobham tracks, is available through www.salvadorsantana.com.
Salvador’s soulful sound can also be heard on a track he wrote and performed
with Carlos Santana for the compilation CD Food For Thought, a benefit for the Milagro Foundation. Based in San Rafael and founded in 1998, Milagro has given
more than $2 million to charities and agencies supporting children and youth in
areas of health, education and the arts. Other projects include Salvador’s
collaboration with Carlos on stirring music for the audiobook version of his
mother Deborah Santana’s acclaimed memoir, Space Between the Stars: My Journey
To An Open Heart.” Salvador also co-wrote the GRAMMY(R)-winning track “El Farol”
from the phenomenally popular 1999 Santana album Supernatural.
At the same time that Salvador Santana’s creative spirit carries on the remarkable musical legacy of his grandfathers — African-American tenor and guitar legend Saunders King and virtuoso mariachi violinist José Santana — and his father, Carlos Santana, it is an innovative and evolving journey all his own. Currently, Salvador is developing material for a new album slated for release by early 2007, and he has been co-writing songs with Santana’s Andy Vargas, Asdru Sierra of Ozomatli and members of B-Side Players, among others.
BAY AREA TOUR DATES:
Apr 21 Berkeley, CA – Blake’s on Telegraph
Apr 23 San Francisco, CA – Cafe du Nord
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
Apr 30 Helsinki, Finland – Hartwall
May 2 Stockholm, Sweden – Globe
May 4 Horsens, Denmark – Forum
May 5 Hamburg, Germany – Colorline
May 6 Hannover, Germany – Tui Arena
May 8 Rotterdam, Netherlands – Ahoy
May 9 Antwerp, Belgium – Sportspalais
May 11 Manchester, UK – MEN Arena
May 12 London, England – Wembley Arena
May 13 London, England – Wembley Arena
May 15 Paris, France – Bercy
May 17 Berlin, Germany – Wuldheide
May 18 Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle
May 19 Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
May 20 Fulda, Germany – Domplatz
May 22 Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
May 23 Cologne, Germany – Koln Arena
May 24 Oberhausen, Germany – Kopi Arena
May 26 Leipzig, Germany – Arena
May 27 Munich, Germany – Konigsplatz
May 28 Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
May 30 Asiago, Italy – Forum
For more information, visit salvadorsantana.com
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
