Jerry Gonzalez & Fort Apache Band at PR Heineken Jazz Fest 1996

A historic document of Latin Jazz: The performance of Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band at the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest 1996 stands as one of the most memorable editions of the festival, marked by the group’s creative power and by Jerry’s deep connection with Puerto Rico. On this occasion, the band arrived with a lineup without its bassist Andy González: Jerry González – Congas & Flugelhorn Larry Willis – Piano Joe Ford – Alto Sax John Stubblefield – Tenor Sax Steve Berrios – Drums Tony Batista – Bass (Puerto Rico) Due to prior commitments with El Conjunto Libre, Andy González —founding bassist of Fort Apache— was unable to travel to this edition of the festival. His absence opened the door to a unique moment: the integration of Puerto Rican bassist Tony Batista, who took on the challenge of learning and performing the entire Fort Apache repertoire with very limited preparation time. That preparation process became an essential part of this story. Jerry González and Tony Batista met at the home of Iván Ramos Angulo, in Puerto Rico, to rehearse every tune and refine every detail before the festival. Those private sessions—intense, focused, and full of creative energy—allowed Batista to blend seamlessly into the signature sound of Fort Apache. What you will see in this video is the result of that work: a band in full artistic maturity, a leader at the height of his powers, and an unrepeatable encounter between New York and Puerto Rico. This material, preserved for decades, is shared today as a tribute to the genius of Jerry González, and in memory of all the Apache members who are no longer with us: Andy González, Larry Willis, John Stubblefield, Carter Jeferson, Joe Ford & Steve Berrios, and to the immense legacy of Fort Apache in the history of Latin Jazz. By: Iván Ramos Angulo – June 5, 2026 Preserving the history of Afro-Caribbean Jazz