Burt Baca

Native born to San Francisco, Burt picked up the Bass at an early age and has been playing ever since.  He grew up in the Mission district and was early influenced by many different genre’s of music.  From Blues to Rock, R&B, Soul to Latin Rock, Latin, Salsa to Jazz.  During his many encounters he has shared the stage and been guest to many different celebrity artists throughout his musical career,  Santana,  The World renowned latin rock legend,   Afro Cuban  percussive legend Francisco Aguabella, also performing on his legendary album of the 70s “Aguabella”, Armando Peraza, another great percusision legend, Pianist Carlos Federico, one of the most influential latin pianists of the west coast,  Pete Escovedo, A bay area legend in his own right,  Richard Bean, original singer of the world acclaimed song “Suavacito” formally from Malo, Joan Baez, The Great folk pop singer from the 70s era,  Members of the Doobie Brothers, also members of Tower of Power, The Latin Allstars and many other great local artists and groups of the bay area as well.  His love for Latin  music has given way to his latest project, JazzSabor

Nerio DeGracia

Pianist Nerio DeGracia grew up in San Francisco,  Ca., in the Excelsior and the Mission district.  He first encountered his sense of musical awareness after hearing Mongo Santamaria and Tito Puente’s song “Ti Mon Bo” which captured his attention of the rhythms of the bass, timbal and conga’s, and how they intertwined with each other.  Ever since then, he knew his musical direction would follow.  This was the turning point of his musical career that would develop in later years.  He would go to Dolores park where everyone would come and play the rumbas, compares, bembe, abacua, guaguanco, colombia rumba and mozambique.  The likes of unknown rumbere musicians then were, Babatunbe Lea, Teddy Strong, John Santos, Jose Flores, Kike, Rafael Ramirez, Raul Recow to name a few and many other prominent percussionists.  Other luminaries such as Armando Peraza, Coke and Pete Escovedo and many other musicians would come by, sit in and listen.  Nerio’s education in music continued at S.F. City College both in classical and jazz theory, which led to performing with the City college band under the direction of David Hardiman.  He went on to study jazz improvisation under John Handy at SFSU.  This resulted in joining the Malo band who toured with the Fania All Stars.  Nerio joined master percussionist Francisco Aguabella resulting in the Album “Hittin Hard”.  He has performed with numerous other entertainers including the late Carlos Federico, Babatunde Lea and Pete and Sheila Escovedo’s band.  In his critically acclaimed album: “An Evening In Luzon”  The Nerio Degracia Mambo Jazztet, his own interpretation of the Mambo Jazz improvisation, incorporated many of the fine musicians of the bay area.  Nerio’s current collaboration with JazzSabor highlights his exhaustive musical attributes displayed in this group.

Sam Austin

Sam hails from New York.  He ia a professional musician and dancer.  He moved to the San Francisco bay area in the 1970s and became the musical director of Black Dimensions Dance Company.  He performed with Viva Brasil who became a long established Brazilian recording group from the bay area headed up by Claudio Amaral.  He has also performed with numerous groups including, Dandara, Marcos Santos, Liza Silva, Margaret Menendez, Entre Nos, Little Brazil, Jah Big and the Steppin Razor Band, Kotojah, The West African Hi-Life Band, The passion Band, and many other local Jazz and funk bands.  His dance forms are Samba and Salsa.  His current involvement with JazzSabor highlights his many talents through the melodic feel of his instrument.

Vicente Ponciano

Vicente was raised in San Francisco in his early years moving from the Bayview to the Mission district.  He was strongly infuenced by the love of Soul music, particularly the sweet harmonics of the Motown sounds.  Moving to the Mission district gave way to his realization that this was the birthplace of the Latin Rock explosion which he became comepletely emersed into the latin rythyms at the time.  From playing congas, bongo, timbales and all of the rythym instruments used to create the original feel and sound.  This lead him on a path learning intricate polyrythymns used in the traditional afro cuban beats that are the heart of the latin rythym of today.  Santana, Malo, Azteca, Sapo were just some of the many founders of this Latin Rock frenzy that became known world wide.  Dakila was also one of these bands which Vicente was a member of.  His interests evolved into Afro Cuban, Salsa and now his love for Latin Jazz.  Groups that he has been involved in have been openers for Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader, Malo, Pete and Shiela Escovedo, Poncho Sanchez, Tower of Power and B.B. King.  The diversity of his many influences shows in his performances.

Brian Andres

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio into a family of professional musicians, it is no surprise that Brian found himself involved with musicians.  At the age of nineteen, armed with years of daily practice Brian began playing professionally. The next ten years found him performing all over the Midwest and up and down the East Coast in musical groups as diverse as Rock, Jazz, Big Band, R&B German Traditional, Blues and Afro-Carribean, Salsa and Latin Jazz.  While living in the Midwest, Brian’s diverse range of styles led him to performances with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members “Little Anthony and the Imperials, as well as Tony Award winner and Broadway star, Faith Prince.  Brian has also shared the stage with such artists as Leroy “Sugar” Bonner from the Ohio Players, blues greats Sam Myers.  Brian continues to perform at a high level, with great articulation and expertise, always welcoming new opportunities for expression and creativity while maintaining the protocol of a professional artist.

David Prescott

David grew up in the San Francisco bay area playing music and continued his education in Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor’s  degree in music performance.  He has as incredibly diverse background.  Besides being known as a trombone player, David has extended his diversity of other instruments to include bass, trumpet, guitar, keyboards as well as vocals.  In addition, he is also an award winning song writer and producer.  He also has shared the stage with countless stars including: Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Bergeron, Maynard Ferguson, Eric Marienthal, Virginia Mayhew, Bobby Gaviola, Peter Walker and Mario Gonzalez.  Musically, David is known for his aggressive yet fluid style which compliments the style of JazzSabor.  David is also currently working on his solo project in the recording studio and soon to be released CD “A Walk in the Park”.  The upcoming CD includes influences and flavors of latin, middle eastern, jazz and rock integrated styles with David playing on most of the instruments.  There will also be some notable musical celebrities on several of the tracks.  His added influence in the group further exemplifies his many talents.

John Halbleib

Coming soon…