For today's local music we are featuring La Pena Community Chorus of Berkeley. While their songs use folk traditions, the lyrics are usually about contemporary social injustice throughout Latin America. The chorus is performing a benefit concert at La Pena Cultural Center on Saturday (06.23) at 8pm, marking the center’s 37th anniversary.
Pianist George Cables has an intensely rhythmic style and always comes out swinging. He first became famous as a sideman in the 1970s, playing with such luminaries as Art Blakey and Dexter Gordon.
Some of Cables’ best work in those years came as a sideman with saxophonist Art Pepper. It seems that Cables’ was fond of Pepper. “Art Pepper was a bit eccentric,” says Cables. “He was a great alto player and very warm.”
