James Gayles is a Bay Area fine artist who wrote me early this year: “I will be staging an exhibition of my work in September 2011 titled Latin JazzMasters. I have been given a grant by the City of Oakland to do these paintings which will consist of portraits of prominent Bay Area Latin Jazz musicians. I have included you in this group and I’m asking your permission to paint a portrait of you. …

This exhibition is intended to be a tribute to this genre of music and those who have contributed to it. I want to make sure the women get their rightful representation. If you know of others, I would appreciate your input. Herman Bossett and Wayne Wallace have been assisting me with the research for this project. I am also including portraits of some of the original masters who established the roots of Latin Jazz; Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, Arsenio Rodriguez and others.”

In July, he sent me a preview of the mixed-media portrait he painted (wood, metal, watercolor), and last month I went to see it in person at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph, Oakland 94609. I was very humbled to be in such good company: The series includes John Santos, Wayne Wallace, Armando Peraza, Tito Puente, Rebeca Mauleón, Bobi Cespedes, Dizzy Gillespie and Omar Sosa. I got to play güiro and sing while James played congas and his wife led dancing at the opening. Thank you, James!