Michael Spiro's Spirology in Concert at La Peña

Enjoy an evening of music and dance at La Peña with , led by renowned percussionist Michael Spiro. This concert highlights the fusion of Afro-Cuban folklore and Cuban charanga, featuring top Bay Area musicians skilled in both styles. Experience the rhythmic interplay of Lukumí bata drums and the elegant Cuban danzón melodies in a lively concert that promises to delight both your ears and feet!

Date: Saturday, July 27th, 2024

Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Location: La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, CA

Tickets - Student, Youth, and Senior Discounts available!

• Early Bird: $20
• General Admission: $25
• At the Door: $30
• La Peña Member: 25% off for you and a guest (Click here to learn more about La Peña Membership)

Featured Artists:

Michael Spiro - Leader, Percussion, Vocals, Arranger

An internationally acclaimed percussionist, educator, and recording artist, Michael Spiro is a ten-time Grammy nominee known for his influential work in Latin music. He has collaborated with notable artists across various genres and continues to innovate with his new project "Spirology," blending Cuban charanga with Afro-Cuban bata drumming.

As a performer Michael continues to co-lead and perform with Orquesta La Moderna Tradición, still holds the conga drum chair in the internationally acclaimed “Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet” (with Grammy nominations in 2011, 2014, and 2015), and co-leads “Conjunto Karabali” with long-time Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo. His new band “Spirology” is a ground-breaking project that fuses Cuban charanga with Afro-Cuban bata drumming, and features the entirely new genre that he has created---the “batanzón”.

For more information, visit: Michael-Spiro.com

Tregar Otton - Violin, Vocals, Arranger

Classically trained from a young age, Tregar Otton has performed globally with Orquesta La Moderna Tradición and other ensembles. A dedicated educator, Tregar leads multiple music groups and has been instrumental in the San Francisco music scene for decades. He leads Mariachi ALAS and various ensembles at the Community Music Center of San Francisco, including three Cuban performing groups (youth and adult) and Old Time/Bluegrass groups. He also is a founding member of the San Francisco Unified School District's Mariachi Program.

John Calloway - Piano, Flute, Vocals

A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Dr. John Calloway has a rich history of performances and compositions with renowned musicians. His extensive teaching career and award-winning compositions highlight his significant contributions to jazz and Latin music education. Dr. Calloway holds a bachelor’s degree in music from CCNY, a master’s degree in music education from San Francisco State University, and a doctorate in multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. John was a music teacher and administrator in SF public schools for over 30 years and has been on faculty at San Francisco State University since 1999.

Miguel Martinez - Flute, Vocals

Born in Chiapas, Mexico, versatile musician and educator, Miguelito Martinez has made a mark in the Latin music scene with his innovative compositions and performances. He is a sought-after clinician and has received accolades for his work as a flutist and music educator. Martinez is the founding director of Corazon Sur a Mexican-Caribbean fusion ensemble and co-director of Balamcoatl; a collaborative project focused on diffusing the vibrant music and dance traditions of the indigenous people of México. Besides his busy career as a performer, Martinez has been a music teacher and multicultural arts educator since 2004 in the bay area.

Steve Senft-Herrera - Bass

For three decades, Steve Senft-Herrera has anchored the bass in numerous Bay Area bands, performing at prestigious festivals and recording across various genres. He currently plays with Conjunto Karabalí.

Remi Spiro - Percussion, Vocals

Specializing in Cuban music, Remi Spiro is a multi-percussionist. He has studied with some of the most important musicians in both the Bay Area and in Cuba, including Jesus Diaz, Daniel Alfonso, Jorge Alabe, John Calloway, and of course his father, Michael Spiro. For over twenty years he has performed and taught in popular and folkloric music settings throughout the Bay Area, and has been a mainstay in several iconic groups, including Orquesta La Moderna Tradicion, Bata-Ketu, and Soltron.

Chance Utter - Percussion, Vocals

Chance Utter is a professional musician and Teaching Artist from Reno, NV. He specializes in World Music drumming traditions from West Africa, Cuba, Brazil, India, and beyond. After receiving his Masters’s degree in World Percussion Performance from the California Institute of the Arts, Chance has been teaching and performing around the country, either touring with the band Wolfgang Timber or performing with many great musicians locally in Reno and in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno where he also teaches World Percussion and Latin Jazz.

Osvaldo Carvajal - Guiro, Vocals

A Cuban percussionist and music educator, Osvaldo Carvajal has enriched the Bay Area music scene since 2001. He directs the music program at San Francisco’s Mission High School and performs with various local bands.

Pablo Caro - Violin, Vocals

A designer, singer, and violinist. Pablo Caro plays with several groups in the Bay Area, including Orquesta La Moderna Tradición and Civic Strings. He is a student of the Community Music Center.

Host or Publisher La Peña Cultural Center