Grammy nominated jazz guitarist Luis Villegas to appear on Catalina Island
Jenine Baines
July 31, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. Fans of Latin jazz guitarist Luis Villegas have been known to travel a fair distance down the freeway to hear the Grammy nominated musician perform at venues from the Temecula Jazz Festival to the La Ve Lee Jazz Club in Studio City. On Thursday, August 7, more than a few of Villegas´ devotees may also find themselves crossing the ocean to Catalina Island when the guitarist appears at the Catalina Country Club from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Joining Villegas are Dan Sistos on guitar and Chris Trujillo on percussion.
"We´re looking forward to returning to Catalina not only because it´s a great place to perform," says Villegas, who has performed at the country club for the past three years, "but because it also gives us a chance to hear an audience´s reaction to many of the new works that will appear on our upcoming CD. It´s wonderful to have this opportunity to capture the excitement of a live performance and bring it back with us into the recording studio."
Excitement has accompanied the versatile guitarist since the launch of his debut CD, Café Ole, earned him a Grammy nomination. The Tucson Weekly hails Villegas as "the Carlos Santana of Spanish guitar" while Daily Vault Album Reviews raves, "Villegas and his band easily prove that they have the talent worthy of stardom."
The new CD, under the working title, The New Brown Sound, is scheduled for release by the end of the year. "It´s a departure for us," Villegas explains. "We´ve moved from a Nuevo Flamenco sound into the ´brown sound´ that had its roots in my old neighborhood of East LA and was made popular by bands like War, Tierra and El Chicano. The best way to describe it is to say it´s jazz mixed with rock and Latin rhythms."
History buffs as well as jazz aficionados will especially enjoy Villegas´ performance at the Catalina Country Club because the club was once the spring training camp for William Wrigley Jr.´s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
"I love how we´re appearing at a site that has welcomed team players throughout its history," says Villegas with a smile. "Our trio is a team, too. The only difference is that we play instruments instead of a ball game. However, when we play, all sides win – players and the audience alike."
To make reservations for Villegas´ appearance at the Catalina Country Club, call 310.510.7404. For more information about Luis Villegas, visit www.luisvillegas.com.
"We´re looking forward to returning to Catalina not only because it´s a great place to perform," says Villegas, who has performed at the country club for the past three years, "but because it also gives us a chance to hear an audience´s reaction to many of the new works that will appear on our upcoming CD. It´s wonderful to have this opportunity to capture the excitement of a live performance and bring it back with us into the recording studio."
Excitement has accompanied the versatile guitarist since the launch of his debut CD, Café Ole, earned him a Grammy nomination. The Tucson Weekly hails Villegas as "the Carlos Santana of Spanish guitar" while Daily Vault Album Reviews raves, "Villegas and his band easily prove that they have the talent worthy of stardom."
The new CD, under the working title, The New Brown Sound, is scheduled for release by the end of the year. "It´s a departure for us," Villegas explains. "We´ve moved from a Nuevo Flamenco sound into the ´brown sound´ that had its roots in my old neighborhood of East LA and was made popular by bands like War, Tierra and El Chicano. The best way to describe it is to say it´s jazz mixed with rock and Latin rhythms."
History buffs as well as jazz aficionados will especially enjoy Villegas´ performance at the Catalina Country Club because the club was once the spring training camp for William Wrigley Jr.´s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
"I love how we´re appearing at a site that has welcomed team players throughout its history," says Villegas with a smile. "Our trio is a team, too. The only difference is that we play instruments instead of a ball game. However, when we play, all sides win – players and the audience alike."
To make reservations for Villegas´ appearance at the Catalina Country Club, call 310.510.7404. For more information about Luis Villegas, visit www.luisvillegas.com.
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