John Santos

The word "indefatigable" comes to mind when describing Oakland percussionist John Santos, who mints albums at a rate of one or two a year, and finds an excuse for a session whenever any significant Latin artist comes to town. Yet sheer inexhaustibility plays second fiddle to inexhaustible creativity in Santos' oeuvre. Last year's quintet album Papa Mambo expanded on the Latin-jazz tradition by incorporating contemporary rhythmic patterns and compelling shifts in groove. This year Santos got even more adventurous with the simultaneous release of La Guerra No — a vocal and drums album featuring El Coro Folklórico Kindembo — and the more contemporary Latin-jazz album, Perspectiva Fragmentada. The coro album is arresting, mostly owing to its sparse template. With a couple exceptions most tracks revel in the spare beauty of... [read full story]