Performance: Esencia Latin Jazz Ensemble

Enjoy original works and popular standards during this afternoon concert featuring Esencia Latin Jazz Ensemble. Founded in 1978, this local Bay Area band has shared the stage with many legendary artists and performed throughout California.

Jorge Ellington has been leading Esencia Latin Jazz Esemble since 1980 and is also their vocalist and song writer. Originally from Panama, Jorge has been a long-time San Francisco resident and has performed alongside top-name artists including Celia Cruz, El Gran Combo, Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, La Lupe and many more.

Jeremy Leber has been in the music industry for the past 40 years with degrees in music education as well as composition/arranging. Jeremy has also played at notable Bay Area venues such as Yoshi's and the Black Cat, as well as, played with many local prominent players such as Joel Smith, Gary Brown, Jeff Chambers, James Levi and Chris Amburger.

Robin Nzingah Smith studied Jazz at the New Muse in Brooklyn, the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock and Billie Taylor’s Jazzmobile under the tutelage of Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Frank Wess and Bill Baron. Nzingah also received her music performance degree at Mason Gross School of the Arts. She frequently performs with Pat Wilder, Key Elements, Mary Lou’s Apartment and with Bay Area funk and blues legend, Johnny Tolbert.

John Christensen is a professional trumpeter and a music educator with over 40 years of experience. John has recorded with many outstanding musicians including Lifeline & Kenny G., The Untouchables and The Reno Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed with Joe Henderson, Joel Dorham's Afro Latin Octet, Pete & Sheila Escovedo, the Coasters and the Drifters.

David Frazier was born in New York and later moved to Berkeley to pursue his musical career. Frazier is a multi-percussionist with many recording credits including Omar Sosa, Cato Pinchera, Tito Gonzales, Joe Henderson, Jeff Chamber and Jorge Ellington.

Arlington Houston is one of the Bay Area’s well-known bass players. Arlington delivers an engaging mix of cool jazz, funk and Latin whether playing acoustic or electric bass. His musical influencers are Ray Brown, Stanley Clark and George Duke. He has also been playing music around the Bay Area for over 30 years and has played with John Handy, Billy Cobham, Javon Jackson and many more.