Name: BRAZILIAN & LATIN JAZZ AT THE MERC
Start: 2026-02-20T19:30:00-08:00
End: 2026-02-20T21:30:00-08:00
Location: 42051 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590-2769, United States

This Black History Month, join us for an evocative evening of live music with the Diego Mondragón Latin Quartet, a program that brings to light the often-overlooked African roots of Mexico and their powerful presence throughout Latin and Brazilian music.
Across the Americas, African heritage pulses not only through rhythm but also through language itself. The very names of genres such as mambo, cumbia, and other Afro–Latin forms carry ancestral memory—echoes of African traditions reshaped through migration, resistance, and cultural exchange. This concert invites listeners to hear those deep connections anew.
Raised in a family of professional musicians, violinist Diego Mondragón has been immersed in music since childhood. As leader of the quartet, his expressive violin guides the ensemble through a repertoire that honors Afro-diasporic roots while celebrating their vibrant evolution across Mexico, the Caribbean, Brazil, and beyond.
The program features boleros, Cuban rhythms, nuevo flamenco jazz, and beloved Brazilian classics—musical traditions profoundly shaped by African influence and continuously reimagined across generations.
The quartet—violin, guitar, keyboard, and percussion—creates a dynamic and intimate musical dialogue. Diego Mondragón is joined by outstanding musicians:
• Mika Mutti, Brazilian keyboardist and percussionist, whose career includes collaborations with Carlos Santana, John Legend, Flora Purim, and a close musical partnership with Sergio Mendes.
• Julián Esparza, San Diego–based bassist and composer, who has performed and recorded with Matt Wilson, Gilbert Castellanos, and Akira Tana.
• Ron Freshman, concert-level guitarist versed in classical, jazz, flamenco, and popular styles, with advanced studies under masters such as Pepe Romero, Ted Greene, Joe Diorio, Lenny Breau, and Joe Pass.
Together, the Diego Mondragón Quartet offers an evening that honors Black history through sound—illuminating the enduring African presence in Latin American music and allowing rhythm, memory, and melody to speak across the Americas.