Ford Amphitheater Welcomes LA Vida Music Festival

Louie Cruz Beltran, Pete Escovedo and Hubert Laws headline the event, complemented by Chris Bennett, The Robert Kyle Brazilian Band, Chalo Eduardo and the Brazilian Beat and Mariachi Ellas Son.

Corniche Entertainment CEO Anastasia Mann is the driving force behind the event, describing it not only as as an opportunity to showcase Latin music, but also shine the spotlight on great local talent. KJAZZ personality Jose Rizo and comedian Mike Marino will play the role of master of ceremonies for a program featuring musicians representing a variety of Latin music genres ranging from Mexican mariachi music to Brazilian bossa nova. It is set to include a combination of original work and those paying homage to Latin music legends such as Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Eydie Gorme. The festival is also replete with subplots.

Beltran is a veteran member of the L.A. Latin Jazz scene. In his career, the master timbalero and conguero has shared the stage with a variety of musicians, including Escovedo and Luis Mejia Godoy. The latter having helped him re-ignite his interest in the music career he had temporarily put aside while pursuing acting work.

His renewed focus on music would eventually lead him to one of his greatest contributions to the city of L.A. "He uses music to teach kids that we are all the same." states Mann.

For years, Beltran has worked with disadvantaged youth, teaching them not only the mechanics behind creating the music so near and dear to his heart, but equally important, its roots. Mann describes a common scenario where Beltran will speak to a classroom full of Black and Latino students to share and talk about the music he loves so much. For many of the students, it is the first time they hear of the African influence found throughout Latin rhythms like mambo, cumbia, son and countless others. Through Beltran's work, students become more aware of how much of each other's cultures is actually part of them and serves as an easily identifiable point of unification.

In addition to the classroom, Beltran extends his work to the baseball diamond by working in conjunction with Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI). Celebrating its 20th anniversary, RBI helps over 150,000 boys and girls throughout the nation overcome social and academic challenges through participation in baseball and softball programs.

Mann herself is also heavily involved with RBI. "I've been working with them for about 10 years," she states, before going on to mention how her heart broke when a young participant equated his experience in the program to the Academy Awards. Since then, she has steadily become more involved with the program and Sunday's music festival is another angle on her attempts to help the group.

Proceeds from LA Vida Music Festival directly benefit RBI and help fund its programs. It is hard to ask for much more than that: great music and a great cause.

Event Details

When: Sunday, October 4th, 2009
Where: John Anson Ford Amphiteatre
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets: 323.461.3673, fordtheaters.org; $35 (Student Discounts Avail.), $50, $100 (VIP), $250 (Super VIP)