JAZZ REVIEW : All-Star Band Highlights Cano Tribute

Eddie Cano wanted his friends to throw a party for him when he died, and that’s just what happened when more than 600 listeners, dancers and fans gathered Tuesday at the Biltmore Hotel’s Biltmore Bowl to take part in the “Friends of Eddie Cano Benefit Tribute,” a musical celebration of the life and music of the highly regarded Latin/jazz pianist. Cano, who died in January at 60, recorded with Cal Tjader, had a moderate hit with “A Taste of Honey” in the ‘60s and was known for his local appearances at rooms from P.J.’s to the Biltmore’s Grand Avenue Bar.

An all-star assemblage of conga drummer Poncho Sanchez, trap drummer Alex Acuna, bassist David Trancoso, saxman Justo Almario, trumpeter Steve Huffsteter, pianist David Torres and timbales player Danilo Lozano provided the meat of the evening’s music, playing three sets of sizzling Latin/jazz that filled the dance floor on most numbers.

Many of the tunes were written and arranged by Cano, such as the snappy “Cal’s Pals,” which had an intricate, attractive melody offered by the horns, and the two boleros--the sadly beautiful “I’ll Never Forget You” and the evocative “My Bianca,” named for his daughter. Almario was particularly passionate on the latter, where his bold, expansive sound contrasted with Huffsteter’s more delicate, golden-toned statements. Trancoso’s rousing “Days to Say Goodbye,” which climaxed with a stunning percussion barrage from Sanchez, Acuna and Lozano, was the best of the faster numbers.

In between the all stars’ sets, Cano was posthumously honored in a proclamation from the City of Los Angeles, presented by Councilman Richard Alatorre. Dramalogue’s Julio Martinez presented Cano’s family with that magazine’s 1987 Instrumental Performance Award and the pianist was remembered in brief speeches by USC’s Dr. Ernest Zapanta and radio personalities Chuck Niles, Enrique Soto, Chico Sesma, Hector Resendez and Eddie Lopez.

Timbales player Bobby Matos’ Heritage Ensemble opened the event with a first-rate set, sparked by the romantic “Fairy Tales for Two,” with Lozano and Louis Van Taylor harmonizing sinuous flute lines, and a delicious Afro-Cuban/merengue version of Horace Silver’s “Cape Verdean Blues,” where Taylor steamed on tenor sax. Closing duties went to percussionist Art Rodriguez’s Salsa Express, whose set was highlighted by the tux-garbed conguero Francisco Aguabella, who drew a throng of listeners to the dance floor as he banged away feverishly on four red drums.

The benefit show, proceeds of which went to the recently established Eddie Cano Memorial Scholarship Fund for Hispanic keyboard/piano students at USC, netted approximately $4,000.