Jazz On Saxx

Giovanni Anarbo was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where he began his musical training at an early age. At just 9 years old, he started studying music under the guidance of Mrs. Cook, taking his first steps into music theory and practice. His passion for music solidified when he enrolled at Belvedere Junior High School, where under the direction of Arnulfo Martinez and Greg Garcia, he finally chose the alto saxophone as his main instrument.

During his school years, Giovanni was part of several ensembles, starting with the Junior Band and Junior Orchestra, eventually advancing to the Senior Band, Senior Orchestra, and the Jazz Ensemble, where he expanded his instrumental range by playing the baritone saxophone.

In the summer of 1987, Giovanni was awarded a partial scholarship to attend the Summer Band Camp at California State University, an experience that broadened his musical vision and deepened his commitment to artistic excellence. However, by the end of that year, due to the rising violence in Los Angeles, his parents made the difficult decision to return to their hometown of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Once in Mexicali, Giovanni resumed his music studies at the Instituto de Bellas Artes, where he briefly studied under the renowned maestro Jacinto “Chinto” Mendoza. Soon after, alongside his friend and musical accomplice Gerardo Gutiérrez, he joined his first Spanish rock band, "Scala Musical", which included Fernando (keyboards), Alfredo Brambila (guitar), Carlos Cortez (bass), Gerardo Gutiérrez (drums), and Giovanni (saxophone). Over time, the band transitioned into a more versatile format and changed its name to "Sol y Tierra", beginning a new phase of performances at social and cultural events.

At the age of 19, Giovanni auditioned for the Mexican Music Department of the Cultural Diffusion Office at the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) in Mexicali, earning a spot in the Mexican Music Workshop. There, he became part of "Son de Acá", a representative group of the UABC that exposed him to a wide variety of musical genres such as Latin rock, Latin jazz, timba, salsa, blues, Afro-Caribbean, and Antillean rhythms.

During this time, Giovanni not only developed as a saxophonist but also immersed himself in the world of percussion, learning to play congas, timbales, and bongos. Initially trained in the rhythmic foundations, he later became self-taught, eventually emerging as a skilled percussionist in the regional music scene. This versatility allowed him to complement his saxophone playing with rhythmic depth and dynamic performance, giving him a unique artistic identity.

Given the scarcity of formally trained percussionists in the region, Giovanni has managed to stand out as a well-rounded musician, known for both his melodic sensitivity on the saxophone and his expressive power on percussion. Today, he remains active in a wide range of musical projects, bringing his talent to cultural, private, and academic events on both sides of the border.

Bands and projects Giovanni Anarbo has participated:

-Son de Aca (UABC) Mexicali

*Fay Rosas y los Sultanes del Blues/Mexicali

-Grupo de Rock Local La Carta de Tito/Mexicali

-Grupo de Rock local NUDOS/Mexicali

-Grupo de Rock El OvO/Mexicali

-Musician in band of legendary guitarist Javier Batiz/Mexicali y USA

-GUEST MUSICIAN at Banda De Musica del Estado de Baja California(Festival Cervantino)

2006 Glenn Fischer Band at Croce's on Mondays at Latin Jazz Nights

-Turiya Mareya latin Jazz Band(Festival de Jazz Pto. Peñasco)

-Orchesta de Salsa Habana Club Band Director and percussion Mexicali

-Paquito Villa Quartet(Donald Vega on pianio, John Hersegay on Bass, Pquito Villa on drums)/Mexicali

-Pico de Gallo(Ensenada Jazz Festival)Tijuana

-Son de Aca at Ensenada Jazz Festival

-Television show "El Show de Don Cheto"/Burbank, CA. USA

-LATINOZON(Festival de musica latinoamericano Por Abril en Pachuca Hidalgo, Tour with  Margarita la Diosa de la Cumbia por Baja California)

-Cesar Juarez Jazz Band(Binational Jazz Festival of  San Luis R.C, Sonora, Festival Tierra Sonora)

JAZZ ON SAXX HAS PARTICIPATED:

-LA COFRADIA DEL VINO Wine Festival SAN LUIS R.C., SONORA

-HOTEL BOUTIQUE VALLE DE GUADALUPE Ensenada, Baja California

-Wone Festival at PARROQUIA DE SAN PEDRO RESIDENCIAL Mexicali, Baja California

-CUMBRE DE ALCALDES DEL PARTIDO DEL PAN

-FIESTAS DEL SOL Mexicali

-CHRISTMAS VILLA  Mexicali

-2018 TOUR OF BAJA CALIFORNIA DURING FESTIVITIES OF EL CERVANTINO IN BAJA CALIFORNIA AT URBAN SCHOOLS AND CONCERT HALLS:

VALLE DE MEXICALI-COBACH

TECATE-CEART

ROSARITO-CEART

ENSENADA-CEART

SAN QUINTIN-OPEN CONCERT HALL

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES-COBACH

SAN FELIPE-COBACH

NAMM SHOW 2018(YAMAHA STAGE)                ANAHEIM, CA

Selena Quintanilla Tribute band as Band director, saxophonist, and percussions.

SANDIA CASINO & RESORT                                                  ALBUQUERQUE, NM

  ISLETA RESORT & CASINO                                                   ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

 THE MUSIC BOX                                                      SAN DIEGO, CA 

 HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM           ANAHEIM, CA 

 RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM                    RIVERSIDE, CA 

  TROPICANA CASINO                           LAUGHLIN, NV 

 SYCUAN GOLF RESORT & CASINO                       EL CAJON, CA 

 SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER               EL PASO, TX 

 CITY OF CHINO HILLS SUMMER CONCERT                      CHINO HILLS, CA 

 THE RAMONA BOWL                     HEMMET, CA 

 CITY OF AZUSA CONCERTS IN THE PARK                     AZUSA, CA 

 THE CONSTELLATION ROOM OC                               SANTA ANA, CA 

  FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO                                INDIO, CA 

 SANTA FE SPRINGS SWAP MEET                              SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA 

 LEWIS FAMILY PLAYHOUSE                          RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA

  THE AGING ROOM AT CRIVELLO'S                      LONG BEACH, CA 

 AZUSA, CA CARNIVAL                               AZUSA, CA 

  ARIZONA STATE FAIR                            PHOENIX, AZ 

 TROPICALIA MUSIC FEST/THE QUEEN MARY                        LONG BEACH, CA 

 THAT TOTALLY 80'S BAR                                          FULLERTON, CA 

  THAT 80'S BAR                                          MONTCLAIR, CA 

 SOBOBA CASINO                                SAN JACINTO, CA 

 ACE OF SPADES                       SACRAMENTO, CA 

 CALIFORNIA THEATER                         PITTSBURG, CA 

 CLUB 80'S                                                                  CORONA, CA 

 NEW WAVE RESTAURANTE BAR                      BELL FLOWER, CA 

  NEWPORT DUNES                        NEWPORT BEACH, CA 

 SANTA ANA'S 150TH YEARS CELEBRATION                 SANTA ANA, CA 

 THE PARAMOUNT                                                EAST LOS ANGELES, CA 

 THE MAJESTIC VENTURA THEATER                        VENTURA, CA 

 DOS LAGOS SHOPPING CENTER                                       CORONA, CA 

 THUNDER VALLEY CASINO RESORT                                        LINCOLN, CA 

 REUNION FEST                                                             FORT STOCKTON, TX 

 THE SUMMIT                                                                                 DENVER. CO 

 CSU SAN BERNARDINO                                              SAN BERNARDINO, CA 

 GOLD COUNTRY RESORT & CASINO                                      OROVILLE, CA 

 SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR                                                          DEL MAR, CA 

 SPOTLIGHT 29                                                                        COACHELLA, CA 

 SALINAS VALLEY FAIR                                                              KING CITY, CA 

 ENGLEMANN CELLARS                                                                FRESNO, CA 

  CITY OF CARSON CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION                  CARSON, CA 

 HOUSE OF BLUES LAS VEGAS                                                LAS VEGAS, NV 

 HOUSE OF BLUES SAN DIEGO                                                SAN DIEGO, CA 

 HO CHUNK GAMING                                                  BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI 

 HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM                                                       ANAHEIM, CA