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Join bassist, composer, and arranger Saúl Sierra and his quintet at the 35th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 1 PM at the Montgomery Theater in Downtown San Jose for a performance that combines Saúl’s roots in Mexico City, the rhythms of Latin America, and the soul of jazz.
In this conversation, Saúl Sierra discusses his upbringing, the power of rhythm to communicate across borders, and how improvisation keeps his music fresh, rooted in tradition, and free. With material already brewing for two more albums, Saúl remains committed to honoring tradition while expanding its possibilities through music.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Saúl’s early musical education wasn’t found in conservatories—it was shaped by the city. He first picked up the upright bass before switching to electric to play rock en Español and rock covers with local bands. His interests evolved toward Latin music, which was hugely popular in Mexico City, encompassing Cuban, Caribbean, and folkloric styles that would later become an integral part of his artistic voice. Saúl returned to the acoustic upright bass while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Since moving to the Bay Area after graduating in 1999, Saúl has been ingrained in the Latin jazz scene. A member and co-founder of bands like Vission Latina and El Tren Trio, his collaborators include Carlos Caro (percussion), Julio Perez (percussion), and Marco Díaz (piano/trumpet) —musicians who also perform on his most recent album, Caminos. With experience teaching Latin Jazz and music, Saúl also cites teaching as a source of creative inspiration, deepening his interest in cross-cultural storytelling through sound. His new album, Caminos, produced with support from a 2022 InterMusic SF musical grant, showcases diverse Pan-American rhythms and blends jazz with folkloric traditions across the Americas.
Creating Caminos was a deeply collaborative process. Saúl laid down bass tracks, then worked with his ensemble, encouraging both structure and spontaneity. While guiding collaborators on his vision of the compositions, Saúl also allowed freedom for personal expression. Ultimately, he believed gathering contributions from diverse musicians would strengthen the tone, rhythm, and authenticity of the project. Whether recording a Cuban changüí with seamless 4/4 to 5/4 transitions or grappling with the complex rhythmic structure of Mexican Son Jarocho, each track reflects a lifetime of listening, learning, and letting go.
Caminos draws influence from rhythms like Venezuelan merengue in ⅝, Joropo, and Peruvian festejo and landó, comparing them to Mexican traditions in both timing and harmonic tension. While he continues to rehearse and adapt Caminos for live quintet performances based on the energy of the performance, Saúl’s musical vision extends far beyond this album, incorporating pieces from Caminos into different sets. As a bassist, he believes it is his role to provide the nuanced foundation that allows these diverse styles to shine.
Follow Saúl’s journey on Instagram @saulsierramusic and experience his vibrant sound at the 35th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest @sanjosejazz on August 10, at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.
CONTENT BLACK BACKDROP PERFORMANCE
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As a jazz bassist, composer, and arranger, Ken Okada has spent his life finding the groove. Unlike in other genres of music, in jazz, bass is the glue responsible for holding the group together. When composing music, Ken is less concerned with being credited with a beautiful melody and more so leaving room for other musicians to join and create.
Born in New York to Japanese parents, Ken also spent time in Brazil and New York in his youth as his family followed his father in business. His ear for music came from his creatively inclined older sisters, who played piano and influenced his taste in music. Video game soundtracks also inspired Ken. He began learning to produce music electronically and playing in multiple bands throughout middle and high school.
After attempting law school at university, Ken began sitting in with the historic Keio University Big Band, where a friend went. That was a huge turning point for Ken, who would soon dedicate his life to music while beginning a tech career, starting his businesses to support his family, and moving to the United States.
Over the years, Ken has composed music as part of the Ken Okada Group and performed in jazz combos and big bands featuring artists such as John Worley, Leon Joyce, Yankee Taylor, Destiny Muhammad, Eric Colvin, and Rick Vandivier and numerous jazz clubs and festivals around the world.
Most recently, Ken has recorded and performed with a percussion phenom, Yoyoka Soma, a 13-year-old Japanese musician living in America who went viral in 2018 for renditions of Led Zeppelin. Together, the group has released the album “Square One,” now available on Spotify and Apple Music.
In our conversation, we discuss Ken’s approach to jazz, his upbringing as a Japanese musician, the influences of jazz in San Jose, and his most recent project featuring Yoyoka.
Join Ken this Friday, 11/10, at 8 pm at the San Jose Jazz Break Room as the Ken Okada Group Featuring YOYOKA engages audiences with stunning rhythm, high-flying melodies, and original arrangements by Ken Okada.
Follow Ken at @jazzr777
Listen to the Ken Okada Group on Spotify: