DOWNTOWN RiVERSiDE CA. STREET JAZZ JAM RETURNS

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. — August 27, 2009 — Riverside’s coolest new event — Downtown Street Jazz Jam — returns on Saturday, September 12 from 2 to 8:30 p.m. in historic downtown Riverside. Families are encouraged to bring their kids to enjoy family-friendly entertainment including face-painting and balloon artists in the afternoon. The ever popular Cadillac Cats will delight the audience with their cool sounds from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Concertgoers will also hear the talented, soul-stirring rhythmic grooves of S.l.an’G., which stands for Soul Love An’ Groove. This local five piece band is known for taking 70s jazz fusion music and blending it with a little funk, hip-hop (old school style) to create their own unique style! Immediately following Slang at 5:30 p.m. Downtown Street Jam will have free salsa dance lessons courtesy of the UCR Salsa Dance Club.

Headlining this Downtown Street Jam on September 12th is none other than the world renowned Latin Jazz artist Poncho Sanchez. This Grammy Award winning percussionist and his award-winning eight piece ensemble will heat things up from 7-8:30 p.m. with his sizzling performance.

Sanchez is one of the leading percussionists in the music industry today. His music style is a fusion of Latin/Afro Cuban style with some jazz, R&B mixed with a little funk. Music critic Scott Lenz of LA Times says of Sanchez, “As Elvis is to rock and James Brown is to soul, Poncho Sanchez is to salsa…particularly the congas,” and the Chicago Tribune calls Sanchez one of the most accomplished and versatile Latin jazz bands in the U.S. Band members include George Ortiz on timbales, Tony Banda on bass, Ron Blake on trumpet, Javier Vergara on alto and tenor sax, Francisco Torres on trombone, Joey de Leon on bongo/tres and Sanchez on congas. Sanchez’s latest recording “Psychedelic Blues” will be available to his fans via streaming online at www.npr.org music courtesy of NPR’s exclusive First Listen program after this concert from September 15-29th.

Attendees are encouraged to patronize local restaurants and shops between performances at Downtown Street Jam. This is an outdoor event and no ice chests or umbrellas are permitted but it is strongly recommended to bring your own chair and arrive early for best seating.

Downtown Street Jam is sponsored and hosted by Riverside Downtown Partnership (RDP) and downtown businesses Mission Tobacco Lounge, Lake Alice, Worthington’s Tavern, Mario’s Place, and Menagerie/Delights & Invites.

Don’t miss Downtown Street Jam, one of the most anticipated events of the year! For more information call Natasha Ferguson at (951) 341-6550, visit www.RiversideDowntown.org or you can find us on MySpace at www.myspace.com/downtownstreetjam.