The city of swing welcomes the story of Salsa Raices: the Roots of Latin Music in New York City: exhibition on view at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas, City Missouri

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2004

New York, NY -- The Raices Latin Music Collection is proud to announce its touring exhibition, Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City. It has opened at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri where it will remain on view through October 17, 2004. "The American Jazz Museum is located in the historic 18th and Vine district at 1616 East 18th Street. Kansas City is considered ay many to be the mother of Swing and the nurturer of Bebop. For museum hours and admission information, please call 816/474-8463.

Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City is a multi-media exhibition of highlights from the Raices Collection. The exhibit explores the impact of Afro-Caribbean Latin musical culture in the United States, and the fusion of styles that became the New York brand of Salsa. The exhibit pays homage to the recognized pioneers and the overlooked individuals whose vibrant music has left an indelible imprint on American culture. Developed by the Raices Latin Music Collection end curated by musician and folkorist Louis Bauzó and designed by Oliver Hirsch, the exhibit includes special tributes to Machito, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Miguelito Valdés and others. Raices celebrates New York City's Latin music legacy.

Regarding the exhibit's opening in Kansas City, Raices Co-founder, Ramon Rodriguez had this to say: "The presence of the Raices exhibit at the American Jazz Museum is an exciting opportunity for us to highlight the Latino contribution to Jazz and furthers our efforts to ensure that Latin music takes its rightful place in the pantheon of America's musical heritage."

The mission of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City is to celebrate and exhibit the experience of jazz as an original American art form through research, exhibition, education, and performance. The Museum features rare artifacts and interactive displays on several jazz musicians and performers. Legends such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are featured prominently within the museum's permanent exhibit. Fans of Charlie Parker, a Kansas City native, can enjoy viewing a saxophone once used by Parker, as well as the Charlie Parker Memorial Plaza located just to the west of the museum. Live jazz music can be heard four nights a week at the Blue Room, designed to resemble a jazz club from the 1930s.

The mission of the Raices Latin Music Collection is to: "Research, preserve, and promote the rich musical legacy of popular and folkloric Afro-Caribbean musical forms through exhibitions, conservation and primary materials and documents, establishment of an archival/research center, educational activities, performance and the presentation of this music through artist workshops an a lecture/demonstrations. Raices documents the evolution of Latin music often referred to as "Salsa "from its origins in the folkloric traditions of the racially diverse Caribbean people to the popular music heard in New York City. Concentrating on the musical contributions of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic--Raices includes the indigenous European and African influences. Through its extensive collection an a educational programs, Raices helps to preserve and present an essential part of America's musical heritage and educates its diverse public about this rich musical tradition.

The Raices Latin Music Collection in an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and en Official Project of SAVE AMERICAS TREASURES. To host the Raices exhibition, please contact Oliver Hirsch at 212/427-2244 ext. 578, ohirsch@theharbor.org

For more information about Raices and the Harbor Conservatory you may visit www.harborconservatory.org.