“…that night, John did an alto reading on Benny Golson´s´I Remember Clifford´ that made the crowd forget to breathe. He knows about playing silence; what he left out rather cubed the impact of what he put in; Cortes lets the silences sing…”

- John Detro, Jazz Tides

photo by Will Wallace

photo by Will Wallace

photo by Will Wallace

Painting from The Jazz Masters Series by BRUNI (408) 370-4700

While still only a student at Balboa High in San Francisco, John was already playing professionally, leading Bobby Freeman's road band on a national tour. He was able to meet and work with such musicians as James Brown, King Curtis, Chubby Checker, Sam Cook, Big Mama Thornton, and Dion, among others. Continuing his studies at San Mateo College, as well as privately with such jazz luminaries as L.A. reedman Gary Foster, John played countless gigs all over the S.F. Bay Area. Inspired by the beauty of the area and the Monterey Jazz Festival (where he first met his wife Aloisia), John moved here in 1976.

John has performed in all the local Jazz venues for the last 25 years as well as the San Jose and Carmel Valley Jazz Festivals. He has also appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival with his own band on 4 different occasions and once as a guest artist with The Broadway Band.

John's new cd, “Out Here On My Own”, is currently being featured on KRML Radio in Carmel, CA. John has also appeared at KRML´s “Jazz and Blues Company”.

John is also featured on KIDD — Magic 63 Radio

photo by Will Wallace

Here's John with Roy Hargrove onstage at the Monterey Jazz Festival.