Sylvia Cuenca Quintet

What a band!!! Don't Miss This!

Join us as this ALL STAR group puts on a clinic on the best of jazz!

Sylvia Cuenca is an outstanding drummer on the New York and SF Bay Area jazz scenes. She has had the honor of sharing the bandstand with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for 4 years and trumpet legend Clark Terry for 17 years. Cuenca has also performed with such jazz luminaries as Billy Taylor, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Eddie Henderson, John Handy, Gregory Porter, John Clayton, Ken Peplowski, Vincent Herring, Geoffrey Keezer,Ralph Moore, Jason Marsalis, Paula West, Allan Harris, Catherine Russell, Dianne Reeves, Dianne Schuur, Denise Donatelli, Ernestine Anderson, Jazzmeia Horn, Lea Delaria, and many others.
Rico Jones is one of the most accomplished saxophonists of his generation. In 2019, Rico Jones was awarded first prize in the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition, a testament to his exceptional talent and promise. Rico's impressive career has seen him share the stage with renowned artists such as Jeff "Tain" Watts, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth, Sullivan Fortner, Victor Lewis, Philip Harper, Bobby Watson, Eric Harland, Vincent Herring, Terrence Blanchard, Veronica Swift, Eric Wyatt, Rich Perry, Matt Penman, Dan Weiss, Matt Clohesy, Peter Horvath, Sasha Berliner and many others.

Joel Behrman started playing trumpet and trombone at age 9. Joel’s latest ventures include touring with drumming superstar Sheila E and also with her father and Latin jazz legend Pete Escovedo. He has also just released a new staight ahead jazz album entitled “Steppin Back” on his own label. Joel has been a fixture in the Bay Area for 12 years. He is currently working with several local groups including the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, and the Glide Change Band. Joel also works regularly with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, and former Tower of Power lead singer, Lenny Williams. He has also made appearances with such artists as Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, Gladys Knight, Boz Scaggs, Etta James, Tony! Toni! Tone!, The Funk Brothers, Barry Manilow, and Josh Groban.

Pianist Matt Clark is a masterful artist who evolved from a child prodigy into a pillar of the San Francisco jazz scene. After his formal education at Ohio’s prestigious Oberlin Conservatory, Clark planted roots in the Bay Area and quickly became a first-call rhythm section player, working steadily with an impressive list of jazz heavyweights including Bobby Hutcherson, Marcus Shelby and Joshua Redman. In addition to his sparkling résumé as a sideman, he’s led a pair of sessions for the Elixir label that focus on the work of composer/arranger Ron Ermini, both featuring esteemed bassist John Shifflet and veteran drummer David Rokeach.

Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim more than a decade ago as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson's post hard bop group Horizon He has long since established himself as one of the premier bassist. He has performed and recorded with such notables as James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, Sam Rivers, George Adams, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Jackie McLean, Frank Morgan, Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Art Farmer, Abby Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Billy Cobham, Bennie Maupin, Steve Turre, Jon Faddis, Bobby Watson, Victor Lewis, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Kirkland, and Ralph Peterson to highlight only a partial list.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Bay Area Jazz & Arts, Inc