Thursday, March 6, 2008
PASADENA WEEKLY NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT
BELTRAN HEATS UP HOLLY STREET
By JOHN SOLLENBERGER
The Holly Street Bar & Grill may sit on an unobtrusive side street on the edge of Old Pasadena, but the location can be deceiving.  Besides being an upscale dining destination, this place regularly hosts top-name acts in Jazz, Blues, Latin and other popular styles.  Friday night is no exception as star percussionist, vocalist, composer and bandleader "Louie Cruz Beltran & His Latin Jazz Ensemble" drop in.

Beltran and company perform a huge repertoire of Brazilian-style, Afro-Cuban rhythm-laced music, drawing influences from R&B, Salsa, Reggae, Latin, Rock and Jazz into a happy blend of ear-pleasing sounds.  His shows are known for getting audiences on their feet and keeping them there.  Beltran's highly adaptable sound has led him to work with some of the greats in the industry over the years, including Jean-Luc Ponte, Nancy Wilson, Pete Escovedo, Brenton Wood, Rita Coolidge,The Sylvers and Chucho Valdez, among many others.

Beltran tours heavily along the West Coast, dividing his time between composing, recording and working as an instructor.  His CD’s, entitled It’s My Time" and “Live at the Ford” are available on his website www.louiecruzbeltran.com, www.myspace.com/louiecruzbeltran, CD Baby and iTunes.

Music starts at 9 p.m. Friday at Holly Street Bar & Grill, 175 E. Holly St., Pasadena. Call (626) 440-1421.
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