For Immediate Release July 19, 2010 s1

For Immediate Release Contact: Diane Maxwell, October 27, 2011 408-961-5841 [email protected]

SOUTH BAY BLUES BLAST HEADS FOR MONTALVO Featuring the Chris Cain Band and the J.C. Smith Band with Maxx Cabello, Jr.

SARATOGA, Calif. –Montalvo Arts Center braces for an unforgettable concert as three sets of accomplished Bay Area blues musicians come together on Saturday, November 12, at 8 p.m. at the hillside estate. Part of the popular Carriage House Theatre Concert Series, the South Bay Blues Blast features the Chris Cain Band and the J.C. Smith Band with Maxx Cabello, Jr.

“More than anyone else, anywhere, Chris Cain represents the future of the blues.” —San Jose Mercury News Chris Cain’s blues upbringing and jazz studies melded to form the searing guitar style that has set him apart and moved him to the top ranks of the blues music scene. Cain studied music at San Jose City College and was soon teaching jazz improvisation on campus. Over the next twenty years, he would also master piano, bass guitar, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone, and become a local favorite in blues festivals.

His debut recording, Late Night City Blues, garnered four W.C. Handy Blues Award nominations, including Guitarist of the Year. Dan Forte of Guitar Player wrote, “An impressive debut album by a top notch guitarist.” Cain’s next two releases, Cuttin Loose and Can't Buy a Break, collected a long list of awards and accolades. In 1995, Cain released Somewhere Along the Way, the fourth compilation of his unique brand of original music: sophisticated blues, funk, jazz and gospel, followed in 2003 by Hall of Shame.

The Chris Cain Band also features Mike Mestek on guitar, Steve Evans on bass guitar, and Greg Rahn on keyboards.

“The J.C. Smith Band has quickly become one of the top blues acts in the Bay Area.” —Metro San Jose J.C. Smith, 2006 Bay Area Blues Society West Coast Blues Band of the Year award winner, is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. His latest release, Defining Cool, was listed for the 52nd Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Blues CD, entered the Living Blues Radio Charts at #16, and was a “Pick to Click” on XM Radio. The CD climbed to #25 nationally.

Smith has shared the stage with Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Shaw, Elvin Bishop, and Tommy Castro, to name just a few. He continues to perform to sell-out crowds throughout the United States, Eastern Europe, Mexico, and South America.

The J.C. Smith Band also features Donnie Green (drums), Robert “Jay” Green (bass), Abraham Vasquez (saxophone), Tommy “Tuesday” Maitland (trumpet) and Pamela Charles Arthur (keys).

"Oh yeah, that boy can really play!" —John Lee Hooker Maxx Cabello, Jr.’s shades of music are reminiscent of the most renowned guitarists of our time. In his work are the inspirations of Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, but Cabello definitely adds his own artistry, showing only influences by the guitar legends. His hard-driving method of playing is as accomplished as it is energetic. His singing is clear and strong as he expresses his music with sensitivity and honesty, giving him a very recognizable voice.

Cabello has opened for greats such as Earth, Wind, and Fire; John Lee Hooker; Ozomatli; Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers; Otis Rush; Roy Rogers, Guitar Shorty; W.C. Clarke; Tierra;

Tommy Castro; Gary Hoey; The Roomful of Blues; Duke Robillard; and Booker T. & the MG’s.

SOUTH BAY BLUES BLAST What: A whirlwind of blues with the Chris Cain Band, the J.C. Band and featuring Maxx Cabello, Jr. When: Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 8 p.m. Where: Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, CA 95071. Admission: $30/$25 general public; $25/$22 Montalvo members. Tickets available at montalvoarts.org, ticketmaster.org, or by calling the Montalvo Box Office at 408-961-5858, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Box Office is also open one hour prior to performance.

About Montalvo Arts Center Montalvo Arts Center is an oasis of culture and nature whose mission is to create and present arts of all types, nurture artists, and use our historic Villa, buildings, and grounds in innovative ways that engage people in the creative process. Located in Silicon Valley's Saratoga hills, Montalvo Arts Center occupies a Mediterranean-style villa on 175 stunning acres, including an international artist residency program. Senator James Phelan left the historic villa and grounds to the people of California for the encouragement of art, music, literature and architecture. In January 2005, the organization changed its name from “Montalvo” to “Montalvo Arts Center” to commemorate its 75th year as an arts center and to better communicate its mission to expanding local, national and international audiences. For more information about Montalvo Arts Center, call 408-961-5800 or visit http://www.montalvoarts.org/