Pete Escovedo

Each fall, SFJAZZ honors a member of the community who has played a vital role in preserving the traditions and fostering the growth of jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In October 2007, SFJAZZ honored Pete Escovedo who “is an exemplar of everything the Beacon award stands for.”

JFM continues to honor legendary Latin jazz Timbalero Pete Escovedo, who recently turned 74 years old.  Pete played the saxophone in high school but when the late pianist Ed Kelly needed a percussionist, he switched to Timbales and never looked back.  That marked Pete’s 55 years in the industry.  He and his younger brother, the late Coke Escovedo, were both in-demand percussionists and with brother Phil Escovedo on bass, they formed “The Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet.” 

Coke joined the Santana band first and after several tours returned home and asked Pete to join, as percussionist Mike Carabello was leaving.  Coke and Pete toured with Santana throughout Europe, the US and Japan.  However, they decided to leave Santana and form their own band again. Brothers Pete and Coke founded Azteca and recorded two albums Azteca (Columbia Records/1972) and Pyramid of the Moon (Columbia Records/1973).  Pete toured with Santana for three years and recorded on Moonflower (1977), Inner Secrets (1978) and Oneness (1979). 

Solo Two (Fantasy Records/1977)
Happy Together (Fantasy Records/1978)
The Island (EsGo/Fantasy/1983)
Yesterday’s Memories, Tomorrow’s Dreams (Concord Crossover/1987)
Mister E (Concord Crossover/1988)
Flying South (Concord Picante/1996)
E Street (Concord Jazz/1997)
E Music (Concord Jazz/2000)
Whatcha Gonna Do (Concord Jazz/2001)
Pete Escovedo Live! (2003)

Pete has performed and toured with other great luminaries such as: Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Stephen Stills, Billy Cobham, Anita Baker, George Duke, Boz Scaggs, Andy Narell, Al Jarreau, Ray Obiedo, Dionne Warwick, Marlena Shaw, Barry White, Angela Bofil, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea, Dave Valentine, Najee, Gerald Albright, Prince, and the late-great Tito Puente.

The Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra continues to perform nationally and internationally.  If an event is listed as the “E Family,” it will include Sheila E, Peter Michael and Juan.  JFM will keep you posted on the long-anticipated E Family CD release date. ˚ (Aug 09)