artist info

Legendary Percussionist Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and contemporary music. His name has been synonymous in the music industry for more than 50 years. Pete is known worldwide for his live performances, session work and solo albums.

A native Californian, as a young boy he would sit on the steps of nightclubs and watch musicians play. Music became his outlet. When he was 15 years old he began to also sketch and paint on wood or cardboard. Anything he could get his hands on, he would start to draw. Pete did not know that his love for music and art combined would change his life forever. And this is how it began.

Pete has performed and toured with such respected artists as Tito Puente, Mondo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Billy Cobham, Boz Scaggs, Anita Baker, Arutro Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, and Chick Corea to name a few. Not only were Pete and his brother Coke the founders of the history-making band Azteca, Pete was one of the early members of Santana! Today Pete leads one of the country’s top orchestra’s, performing their unique brand of Latin Jazz.

Pete Escovedo has recorded 9 acclaimed solo albums, 2 albums with his daughter Sheila E., and the Latina Familia live album with Sheila E. and Tito Puente. The entire family has gotten together as the “E Family” to record the album Now and Forever, featuring Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Juan Escovedo and Peter Michael Escovedo.

Pete Escovedo and his Latin Jazz Orchestra have always been breaking new grounds when it comes to playing live music, bringing talented and well known musicians together to perform on stage. Their shows attract all ages, backgrounds and nationalities who come together to hear incredible music, the memory of which will last forever.