In the spring of 2003 Zialcita formed the Carlos Zialcita Jazztet and began performing at the Island Lighthouse, a jazz club and restaurant in Alameda. During their six-month stay there the Jazztet has quickly developed into an excellent ensemble of soulful, talented, and seasoned musicians. Sharing a common musical vision, the Jazztet has shared their jazz, blues, Latin, soul, and R&B roots to create a very special blend that is both familiar and soothing as well as new - and helping to expand the definition of "West Coast Jazz".

In addition to Carlos Zialcita on harmonica and vocals, the band features Eric Swinderman on guitar, Marty Williams on piano, Ben Luis on bass, and Tony Coleman on drums. This lineup is often augmented by vocalist Myrna Del Rio. The Carlos Zialcita Jazztet recently appeared at the 2003 Concord Fall Festival, closing the Saturday evening show to a very receptive crowd. In December 2003, the band played at one of San Francisco's premiere jazz venues, Club Jazz Nouveau, making it's San Francisco debut performance.

Not exactly a stranger to the jazz scene, Zialcita has performed with many very well known artists over the years including Donald Byrd, Eddie Palmieri, John Handy, Calvin Keys, Donald Bailey, Brenda Boykin, Faye Carol, Denise Perrier, Frankye Kelly, Yancy Taylor, and Glen Pearson.

Playing both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas to compliment his vocals. Zialcita performs songs from a wide repertoire that includes many jazz and blues standards. His sets range from a favorite instrumental by Miles Davis or John Coltrane to ballads and blues from the songbooks of artists like Lou Rawls, Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Louis Jordan, Nat King Cole, and King Pleasure. The band is currently working on a CD that will include both studio and live performances. They hope to complete the project by early spring of 2004.

With the addition of jazz to his musical palette, Zialcita has re-defined his musical vision and expanded his horizons. Now comfortable performing in both the blues and jazz worlds, he is now taking center stage and delivering to audiences music that comes from his many years of performing and paying his dues. He has certainly done that, and has played with many of the masters in the process. Proud to represent music they have loved all of their lives, the members of the Carlos Zialcita Jazztet have a very special story to tell. Listen.