Percussion Guru Sanchez Opens His Scrapbook

The Conga Room’s continuing series of career retrospectives is peaking this week with a tribute to conguero Poncho Sanchez. It would be hard to find anyone more deserving. Long a staple on the Los Angeles Latin jazz scene, he still hasn’t quite received the international credit he merits as a superb percussionist, an imposing onstage personality and an inspiring bandleader.

On Wednesday night, the program was devoted to an early segment in Sanchez’s career--the years he spent as a vital member of the Cal Tjader band, an association that lasted from 1975 until the legendary vibist’s death in 1982. Sanchez would be the first to acknowledge Tjader’s influence.

Although his music was often minimized by critics who viewed it as Latin Jazz Light, Tjader played an important role in blending the two genres, as well as in finding and securing new audiences. Sanchez, in his own way, has taken a similar path.

Most of the Wednesday selections were dedicated to spirited remembrances of such classic Tjader-related items as “Soul Sauce,” “I Showed Them,” “Tropicville” and “Poinciana.” The essential vibraphone sound was added by Ruben Estrada, who frequently explores the world of Tjader in his Estrada Brothers band. Swinging mightily, mixing bebop phrases with crisp rhythmic accent, he was a powerful force in bringing the music to life in a fashion that was both memorable and vividly contemporary.

Typically, Sanchez distributed solos freely, with particularly impressive work coming from trumpeter Sal Cracchiolo, alto saxophonist Andy Martin and the group’s keyboardist and music director, David Torres.

Pulling all this together, seated in characteristic fashion front and center, Sanchez was a virtual percussion guru, the music extending and flowing from his diverse and insistent array of sounds, rhythms and accents.

More than 20 years after the Texas-born artist formed his first group, Sanchez is now a masterful leader, and it’s no wonder that he has persuaded such major jazz names as Freddie Hubbard, Tito Puente, Eddie Harris and Dianne Reeves to make guest appearances on his albums.

But what really makes the Sanchez band such a unique entity--even in a program largely dedicated to Tjader--is the heart-and-soul drumming of the leader and the subtle musical interaction among players who have worked together so long that they can finish each other’s musical sentences.

*

On Thursday night at the Conga Room, Sanchez explored salsa; tonight he will expand his career overview, 10 p.m.; one set only, $20. Conga Room, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 938-1696.