Latin jazz concert with global focus spices up Grand Hall for Unity Through Diversity Week
The program features the Rice Jazz Ensemble, directed by Larry Slezak, and the University of Houston's Afro-Cuban Percussion Ensemble, directed by Marvin Sparks. Several professional Houston musicians will grace the Grand Hall as well; among their ranks are Javier Pagan, Cesar Morales, Luis Juarez, Aníbal Ambert, Gilbert Sedeño and possibly Eddie Louis and Joel Fulchum.
The concert will have a three-part presentaion with intermissions between each segment.
The first part, Afro-Latin percussion, is to include Latin jazz such as the mambos of Perez Prado and rhumbas danzones. The second segment, Big Band jazz, will include Duke Ellington's swing and funk fusion by Japanese composer Toshiko Akiyoshi. Last but not least comes the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz featuring the works of Chick Corea, Mario Bazua and Dizzy Gillespie.
According to Jorge Kamine, Rice Jazz Society president, the society is sponsoring Saturday's concert to demonstrate the essentially international nature of the Latin jazz genre, which has been somewhat ignored by the university.
The history of the music is truly diverse. The genre has global roots: Kamine gives as an example the use of the "suona," a Chinese instrument, in traditional Cuban music and cites African influences in percussion and European influences on harmonics.
"I hope that people will come out this Saturday and hear and enjoy the broadness of this genre," Kamine said.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the April 7, 1995 issue.
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