Groundbreaking exhibition on Latin Jazz premieres at the Smithsonian

Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 2002

A new bilingual traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, "Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta," will premiere at the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building on Saturday, October 19, and remain on view until January 18, 2003. After it leaves Washington, D.C., "Latin Jazz" begins a four-year, 12-city tour across the United States and the Caribbean.

"Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta" tells the story of the evolution of Latin Jazz in the United States. The exhibition offers a concise and inclusive look at Latin jazz, its history, major personalities and icons. The exhibition features maps, audio-visual stations, vintage film footage, oral history interviews, documents, photographs, musical scores, programs and album covers. Several instruments (some owned by jazz greats)--a tres, claves, maracas, congas, bongos, güiros, tamboras, horns, cuatros, timbales, and a five-key flute--will enhance the exhibition's impact on the visitors.

"Listen to it, and you can't help but move to the music. Read about it, and it opens doors to our diverse past. Latin jazz is American and world music. We're delighted to bring this long overdue exhibition to the public," said Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small.

The 18-member advisory committee was led by curator Raúl Fernández, professor of social sciences at the University of California, Irvine, and drawn from the international jazz and Latin music community, has been an important part of the planning process of this project. Members include music scholars and historians, musicians, record executives, producers and radio broadcasters. "Latin jazz is one of the most complex and exciting musics of the planet," said Fernández. "It combines Afro-Cuban and Caribbean rhythms with the harmonic approaches and styles of jazz. It's the perfect combination."

The exhibition is part of a four-component project, which also features accompanying educational materials, a book published by Chronicle Books, and a CD produced by Smithsonian Folkways containing some of the most essential Latin jazz recordings. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at www.sites.si.edu.