Yoshi's Jazz House, in Oakland, will celebrate May 17th the release of fiery pianist and composer Rebeca Mauleón’s new CD, Descarga En California. On the forefront of the Bay Area Latin jazz community for many years, Rebeca Mauleón is joined for this special occasion by legendary timbalero Orestes Vilató, Cuban drum sensation Jimmy Branly, trumpeter Luis Eric Rodriguez, percussionist and singer Edgardo Cambón, trombonist Marty Wehner, and bassist Gary Brown.

Mauleón's new album, Descarga En California (on the Pimienta Record label), is due in stores May 9th. Under Mauleón’s musical direction, Descarga En California features the intense and raw spontaneity of the historic Cuban jam sessions of the 1950s, and unites percussion giants Giovanni Hidalgo (congas), Orestes Vilató (timbales & bongos), and special guest and Latin music treasure Armando Peraza (bongos) of Santana fame.

Recorded “live” in-studio, this classic and mostly original repertoire features the excitement and unbridled energy found in live performance, an element often missing in today’s controlled, high-tech recording environment. Recorded in San Francisco & Burbank, California, Descarga En California unites some of the brightest stars of the “Nor-Cal” (northern California) and “So-Cal” (southern California) Latin music scene.