While jazz has long been considered a distinctly American art form, it cannot be denied that it is and has always been a stylistic amalgam of the many rich cultural traditions that define the American experience. In fact, it's our cultural diversity in particular that (by and large) exemplifies the very meaning of "distinctly American".
With this in mind, jazz musicians have always been creative, open-minded, globetrotting explorers in search of new sounds, new rhythms, new harmonies and melodies as a means by which to expand their musical vocabularies and palettes of artistic expression. "Latin Jazz” (as it’s commonly known) is, in effect, an approach to playing jazz that integrates traditionally American jazz forms, concepts and sensibilities with rhythms, harmonies, melodies and instruments from the African, Caribbean and South American musical traditions.
Targeting student audiences and audiences of all ages alike, this 60 minute live educational program traverses the origins and evolution of Latin/Afro-Caribbean jazz and highlight the contributions and music of groundbreaking artists such as, Mario Bauza, Machito, Dizzy Gillespiel, Tito Puente, Irakere, Eddie Palmieri and Fort Apache just to name a few. Program objectives are to elucidate the degree to which both, the American experience and the sound of jazz, have been greatly influenced, enhanced, expanded and refined by these rich, soulful Afro-Caribbean heritages.