About La Cantera’s Monthly Residency at the California Clipper
Established the third Friday of December 2023, La Cantera’s Monthly Residency at The California Clipper is one of SRBCC’s most notable investments in the development of emerging local artists. With past appearances by Paoli Mejías (Carlos Santana), Jonathan Suazo (Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2023 by the New York Times) and Flaco Navaja (The Warriors, New Concept Album From Lin-Manuel Miranda), this jam has become a regular stop for award-winning Jazz, Salsa and World Music artists.
La Cantera musicians have performed at some of Chicago and Puerto Rico’s most prestigious music festivals and venues, including:
Chicago, IL
- Chicago Jazz Festival
- Hyde Park Jazz Festival
- Chicago Latin Jazz Festival
- Sueños Latin Music Festival
- Chicago Salsa Congress
- World Music Festival
- Millennium Park Holiday Market
- The California Clipper Monthly Residency
Puerto Rico
- Ventana al Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico
- Foro de Jazz del Conservatorio de Música de PR
About Enrique Chávez
Enrique Chavez obtained his bachelor’s degree in classical percussion at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. He has excelled as a performer of various musical genres and styles. He has performed in Albuquerque New Mexico, with diverse groups such as the ABQ Jazz Orquestra, under the musical direction of trumpeter Bobby Shew, musical director of drummer Buddy Rich’s band. He has also worked with saxophonist Doug Lawrence (of Count Basie Orchestra), the company of gypsy guitarist José “Chuscales” Valle, the Circus Luminous at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the flamenco repertory company Yiastros and two consecutive years in the Albuquerque Jazz Fest. In 2012, “El Peru”, as he’s affectionately known in Puerto Rico, participated as a percussionist in the reality show “Q’Viva! The Chosen”, produced by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Chávez was invited to be part of the flamenco repertoire company Yjastros, in the show “Tablao Flamenco at the CanyonRoad” in Santa Fe and “Houston Spanish & Flamenco Festival” with the Flamenco company of Jose “Chuscales” Valle.
In 2016 Enrique joined Orquesta el Macabeo, performing at festivals like the Cervantino International Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. He appeared in Cadiz, Spain at the Ibero-American Theater Festival with the show “Las hijas de la Bernarda”. He was also part of the group IFé, which composed Caribbean electronic music, where he performed at international festivals such as the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Most recently, Chávez participated offering percussion clinics at the International Festival of Percussion at the Conservatory of Music in Puerto Rico and performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with the group Emplegoste, a collective that develops Afro-Puerto Rican music mixing electronic and psychedelic elements. He currently lives in Chicago IL, where he works as a composer and music producer, and plays percussion with different projects in Chicago and Puerto Rico.
