StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Poncho Sanchez plays "El Conguero" and "Baila Mi Gente"

Today's video clips feature master Latin/jazz percussionist Poncho Sanchez, who will be in St. Louis next week to perform Wednesday, November 19 through Saturday, November 22 at Jazz at the Bistro. Sanchez' band is considered one of the top Latin/jazz groups working today, and the majority of their gigs are at concerts and festivals. They rarely play clubs, which is why Jazz St. Louis director of operations Bob Bennett tells me that the organization feels they've scored quite a coup by enticing Sanchez to the Gateway City for a four-night stand.

These two clips will provide a brief introduction to Sanchez's energetic, extroverted approach to music. Up top, you can see him and his band working out on "El Conguero," which translates (as if you couldn't guess) as "the conga player." Down below, they're playing a tune called "Baila Mi Gente," which Babelfish tells me means "my people dance." I'm not quite sure about the Spanish syntax there - it could be "dance, my people" - but the music comes through loud and clear.