Elements of Latin music can be heard in some of the earliest jazz, a tendency Jelly Roll Morton referred to as the “Spanish Tinge.” Music Director and bassist Carlos Henriquez and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra explore the phenomenon of Latin jazz, through the paradigm of Afro-Cuban forefather Machito and “Mambo King” Tito Puente. Machito was one of the first to introduce Afro-Cuban jazz as one of the earliest hybridizations of the two genres and, in doing so, created a lane for a plethora of Latin styles like mambo, son, guaracha, and guajira to further diversify the music. Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Henriquez’ home borough is a historical haven for Latin culture and creativity. A longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the versatile Henriquez has shared stages with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Bobby Cruz, and a host of greats from various genres. One of the most gifted inheritors of the breadth of what has become Latin jazz, Henriquez will also debut his own compositions, rightly affirming, “[The] melting pot is still brewing for more innovation.”

Free pre-concert discussion nightly, 7pm.

Visit www.jazz.org for more information!