|
July 19 through October 12, 2003 | First Union Gallery
This exciting multimedia exhibition took visitors on a rich musical journey
through the history and the evolution of Latin jazz in the United States and
the Caribbean. It offered a concise and inclusive look at the Latin jazz
movement, its rhythmic and cultural origins, along with major personalities
and icons. Bilingual (Spanish/English) interpretive text provided information,
narration, and personal voices aimed at encouraging the understanding,
appreciation, preservation, and enjoyment of Latin jazz as an important musical
expression. The exhibition included historical and contemporary objects, music
instruments (some owned by Latin jazz masters), historical and contemporary
photographs, documents, maps, sheet music, programs and album covers, and other
memorabilia.

Tito Puente.
Photo courtesy of SITES (Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition Services).
Audiovisual stations with oral history interviews and a short
documentary film were also featured. The exhibition was composed of research
and writings contributed by a team of scholars including Raul Fernandez, New
York journalist Marx Salazar, Cuban writer/musician Leonardo Acosta, historian
Cristobel Diaz-Ayal, and writer Isabelle Leymarie, in addition to members of
an 18-member advisory committee. The advisory committee, a diverse group of
scholars, writers, musicians and music industry professional, represented a
broad range of cultural backgrounds. The varied perspectives from this
impressive group laid the initial foundation for the project.
Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta was organized by the
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and
America's Jazz Heritage, A Partnership of the Lila Wallace-Reader's
Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution. Additional support
was provided by BET Jazz.
|
 |
 |