Alma Villegas Band

alma villegas band

Saturday, Feb. 16, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Tickets: $14 VAA members, seniors; $16 general admission
Complimentary Champagne and Dessert

Latin Jazz band performs with Panache

When Alma Villegas performed at Strawberry Festival last summer, a number of people said, “Bring her back soon!” Sultry, smooth and fiery, Villegas returns to the Island on Valentine’s weekend for a full evening of Latin jazz and love songs. Joined by her band: Matt Dressler, timbales; Ricardo Guity, congas; Ben Verdier, piano; Steve Okimoto, bass; and special guest Fran Lukas, alto and tenor sax will join Villegas on stage.

Villegas, who grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, was inspired from a young age by the romantic ballads of Velasquez and Augustin Lara. As a young adult, she moved to San Diego where she earned a BA in theatre arts and then moved to Seattle where she has worked in local theater (including AHA! Theatre) and started singing professionally in 2001.

Known for her lustful, passionate voice, Villegas performed with popular Latin slasa band, Cambalache and classic Cuban music with Yerba Buena. For the Blue Heron Panache concert, she will offer a diverse slection of music from bolero and cha-chas, to mid-tempo Latin jazz standards to a variety of spicy Cuban rhythms and seductive, Brazilian bossa novas, all of which may be heard on her CD, simply entitled Alma Villegas. The Alma Villegas Quintet has performed at many regional venues including Jazz Alley, The Triple Door and the Fremont Summer Festival.