Event Archive

Javier Batiz: Going Back to TJ

April 29, 2022 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 47 South Oak Street Ventura, CA 93001

Friday April 29 at 7pm

Mexico’s Master Guitar Player

In 1957 Javier Batiz founded a group called Los TJ’s and became the first Mexican performer to accurately perform the American hits. Mexican border cities were unaccustomed to the blues and R&B from people like T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, BB King, Chuck Berry, Howlin ‘Wolf, James Brown, among others.

He is widely known as a teacher and mentor of Carlos Santana and other Mexican artists such as Álex Lora, Abraham Laboriel, Fito de la Parra (Canned Heat), and Guillermo Briseño.

Javier Bátiz could very likely have been world famous had he headed north of the border with his good friend and bandmate Carlos Santana back in the 1960s.

But instead, Javier went south to Mexico City, where he built a successful career in the country he loves.

Javier has been playing steadily since those days and we are proud and fortunate to present him on April 29th at Namba Arts.