" data-original-title="" title="">John Santos unleashed what can only described as a force of nature. By the conclusion of trombonist Papo Vazquez's performance, the crowd was dancing in the aisles, crying in its beers and hollering its appreciation for a real show-stopper. Vazquez demonstrated his chops while, at the same time, showing why, for some rabid fans, Latin jazz is the new rock 'n' roll. And as Vaszquez so eloquently explained in a pre-show talk, great bands always need a leader. During the course of what was almost a four-hour performance, Vaszquez wailed on his trombone, danced, sang, played rhythm instruments and, most importantly, directed a band of New York-based musicians who were as spectacular to watch as they were to hear.
By the time it was over, Vaszquez had jumped into the audience for a trip through the sparkling new SFJAZZ Miner Hall, while the band danced and played. Many people had come expecting to see local player Santos, and the performance was listed as Pirates and Troubadours, the name Vaszquez has given to this group. Vaszquez could not recall when he had last been in the city by the bay, but for his fortunate audience, he delivered a show that few will forget.
The material was all-original, composed by the leader in a modern style drawing from numerous sources, including what sounded like the entire history of Latin music. Throughout, there were the roaring rhythms of two congueros—