THREE OF THE biggest guns in the Bay Area blues scene perform at this Montalvo showcase, and all have a South Bay connection. Headliner and San Jose native Chris Cain got his start teaching jazz at City College here, while openers J.C. Smith and Maxx Cabello Jr. are top names in the local scene, most recently joining forces in Smith’s Fountain Blues Festival All Stars. Just as importantly, this is a line-up that shows the peak performance level working bluesmen are capable of getting to when they are constantly honing their skills. It’s all about class issues these days, right? Well, this is Occupy Blues Music. The absence of Tommy Castro notwithstanding, I’d be hard-pressed to think of a better lineup of working-class musicians to represent the South Bay’s contribution to the art of blues guitar.
Montalvo Arts Center
Sat, Nov. 12, 8pm; $25/$30
