Machete Ensemble

The Machete Ensemble^[1] was a Latin jazz band whose 21-year organization ended with its final concert on November 12, 2006, when it closed the 2006 San Francisco Jazz Festival.^[2] KQED News reported that "it seemed like everyone who was ever part of the San Francisco Latin jazz scene was on hand to bid adios to John Santos' Machete Ensemble."^[3][4]

Its main personnel were San Francisco Bay Area musicians John Santos, director, congas, percussion, composer; Orestes Vilató, timbales, bongos; John Calloway, flute, composer/arranger; Wayne Wallace, trombone, composer/arranger; Melecio Magdaluyo, saxophone, clarinet, flute; Ron Stallings, saxophone, clarinet; David Belove, bass; Paul Van Wageningen, drumset; Murray Low, piano; Orlando Torriente, vocals, percussion.