tropical connection
‘FROM HAVANA TO LIMA’ SHOWCASES LATIN JAZZ, SALSA CRIOLLA
It all started with an idea.
It took nearly a year to complete it. And Douglas Lawrence couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve always wanted to do a big production that showcases New Mexico talent,” he says. “This is an example of the high caliber of musicians there are in the state.”
Lawrence is a member of the New Mexico Jazz and Latin Orchestra and the band will present “From Havana to Lima” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Lawrence says that for decades, the rhythms from the Caribbean to South America have left an indelible imprint on music around the world.
American jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie first started incorporating these Afro-Latino rhythms with jazz in the 1940s, and a new musical art form was born, Latin jazz.
“The first half of our show concentrates on salsa and Afro-Cuban inspired Latin jazz,” he says.
He will be joined by Bobby Shew, Cesar Bauvallet, Jackie Zamora, Paul Gonzales, Ricky Carrido, Victor Rodriguez, Glenn Kostur, Milo Jaramillo, Tomas White, Chris Buckholz, Mariano Morales, Christian Orellana, Mathias Rodriguez and Andy Zadrozny.
Lawrence says the first show came together during a gig for the Taos Jazz Bebop Society last September.
“We had such a great response,” he says. “We began to expand on that, and what we’ve got is something great. We’re thinking about touring it sometime in 2018.”
The second half of the show will feature salsa criolla.
The genre is new and beginning to travel around the world. It involves blending salsa music with Afro-Peruvian “festejo” using traditional instrumentation.
“The sound is amazing and full,” he says. “There are about 15 of us on stage performing. Each one of us brings our individual talent to the stage. When we work together on the songs, there’s nothing like it. I’m sure it will get people up and dancing. The NHCC was so great to help us find a big space to perform in. The genre of music needs that space to fully be heard. It’s a great opportunity for New Mexicans to see this new genre of music.”