Friday, May 5, 6pm & 8pm
VC & Friends, Hernández Macías 83
$300 VIP, $225 Premier, $175 General

San Miguel de Allende is not only a world heritage city but due to the many artistic offering it has gained a reputation as a cultural center, a supporter of the arts. There are over 50 galleries, 20 musical festivals and countless live performances consistently offered in a wide variety of restaurants and small venues. Yet despite this embarrassment of riches, it’s quite a treat when a world class musical event is offered in an intimate and professionally set acoustic setting.

This is the case of the upcoming May 5th when one of San Miguel’s musical treasures, Gabriel Hernandez, will be leading his quintet of world-class musicians at the intimate venue of VC & Friends. For many years VC & Friends was home base for one of our famous resident, Doc Severinsen. However since Doc’s retirement VC has catered primarily to the late evening audience that enjoys dancing. This will be the second offering that Gabriel is leading at VC & friends, from the first there were a variety of praises:

A magical evening of world-class music, worth every penny! ~Maxine Graboyes

Great show! I'm so happy that I was at such an awesome musical event. ~Rick Kamenshine

This would have been a great concert in any city in the world; but in little San Miguel: pure ecstasy! ~Robert Schlagal

What an awesome performance! When is the next one? ~Martha Donnelly

It felt like we were in one of the great New York Jazz club, it was simply awesome! ~Doug Robinson

I've attended music festivals that offered less and charge three times more, this was a really treat! ~Marianne Whitaker

An amazing evening of beautiful music performed by world-class musicians. ~Imelda Ortiz

I myself send Dilia Suriel, the producer of the show, a kudo email the following day.

The May 5th shows, one at 6 PM another at 8 PM, will not only include a “Cinco de Mayo” salute to Mexican music, but also feature jazz, world music and Gabriel’s Cubanismo, his musical roots, which will be enhanced by his Camay’s childhood friend and musical brother Alfred Thompson. Thompson, has as he is called by his friend, is one of Havana, Cuba leading musicians. Due to his long time association with the Buena Vista Social club Alfred has performed all over the world, has multiple original compositions and is a guest musician in scores of recordings. Exploding this ensemble are two additional gentlemen who will be coming from Mexico City, the highly sought-after trumpeter Joe D’Etienne and master bass player Emiliano Coronel.

D’Etienne was born in Germany but spend most of his life in the United States from where he received a master’s in from the University of Texas. Maestro D’Etienne is no only recognized as a world-class jazz trumpeter but also plays the piano and leads, not one, but two distinct orchestras in D.F. Joe is also a professor at of big band ensembles, jazz improvisation and trumpet at DIM music school in Mexico City.

A native of Cuernavaca, the young Emiliano Coronel, is already considered one of the most talented bass player in México. Emiliano received his master’s in music from Universidad Veracruzana and has also studied in the Berkelee School of Music. He has already produced 5 CDs and recorded in a large number of projects with other artists. He is highly sought after by not only the local D.F. musicians but also by visiting musicians from all over the world.
Driving the musical bus will be the ever ubiquitous and talented Victor Monterrubio, who is one of the first musicians that any visiting performers call before arriving to San Miguel. With his Peruvian cajón and assortment of ethnic percussion instruments, Victor will be providing “La Sal” to this dream quintet.

Dilia, who is also producing this second set of shows, has a vision that San Miguel de Allende has the critical mass to support this caliber of musical events. She is a genuine music lover and through her diligent work hopes to share this special evening with other music lovers in her new home town.