Los Gatos began in 1997 as a hip, salsa quintet in the mode of cool-jazz master Cal Tjader. The group, which has morphed into a top salsa and Afro-Cuban dance band, performs from 8-10 p.m. July 20 at the U-M Museum of Art Forum.
Los Gatos features Pete Siers on timbales, coro and percussion; Cary Kocher on vibraphone and coro; Brian Di Blassio on piano and coro; and Al Di Blassio on congas, vocals and percussion.
The group performs monthly at venues around the Ann Arbor/Detroit area and has released two CDs. The public is welcome to come at 7:30 p.m. for a 30-minute salsa dance lesson before the concert, sponsored by the UMMA.
The monthly jazz series, curated by Adam Unsworth, associate professor of music, presents outstanding local jazz artists in an intimate setting. This series is made possible by the Doris Sloan Memorial Fund.
Face it Foundation founder discusses depression in men
Mark Meier, a social worker, patient advocate, businessman and founder of the Face It Foundation, presents a talk and question-and-answer session from 10:30 a.m.-noon July 27 at the Rachel Upjohn Building Auditorium.
Meier is traveling across the country by bicycle this summer to promote dialogue and awareness about depression in men. He will speak from the perspective of a clinical social worker and adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota, as well as someone who lived with untreated depression for 14 years.
Meier credits his then-infant daughter with thwarting his attempt to take his own life 10 years ago, an event that prompted him to seek treatment and bring his message of hope and consciousness-raising about depression across the country to men and their families. Meier’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion with Depression Center members with expertise in the topic of men and depression. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at depressioncenter.org/register/men_and_depression.
