U of A Jazz Program Presents Signature Jazz Series Concert

The U of A's Jazz Program in the Department of Music presents their final signature concert of the academic year with a program titled "Winds From Southeast: A Night of Latin Music," produced and directed by professor Fernando Valencia. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, at the U of A Black Box Theater, 2 E. Center St., Fayetteville AR 72701. This concert is free and open to the public.

"This program is a firm recognition of the enormous influence of the African diaspora and its interaction with the Indigenous and European cultures on the crafting of the 'Latin Sound' via the colonization process," Valencia said. "Winds from southeast, nature's powerful force crucial in catalyzing the unsettling transatlantic slave trade and determinant on the atmospheric conditions of the 'New World,' conversely planted the seeds of perhaps the most valuable outcome of the colonialism process in Latin America: its music!"

Percussionist and composer Valencia, a veteran of both major symphonic orchestras and internationally known jazz and Latin music groups, has directed and arranged for the Latin American Music Ensemble at U of A since 2012. "Our jazz program is extremely fortunate to have an expert like professor Valencia on our faculty that allows us to offer this unique and important ensemble to our students," said jazz area coordinator Jake Hertzog.

The show will feature The Fernando Valencia Latin Jazz Sextet with guest musicians Darren Novotny (drums) and Armando Gutierrez (trumpet), U of A Jazz faculty Joon Park (piano) and Asher Perkins (bass), and U of A alumnus Matt Beach (trombone). The repertoire explores contrasting ramifications of a style that evolved and developed in New York City through the works of Mario Bauzá and the great encounters between Chano Pozo and Dizzie Gillespie.

The concert's second half will present the U of A Latin American Ensemble in a sonic trip through the different regions of Latin America influenced by the African diaspora. The U of A Latin Ensemble will be joined by guest student Colton Townsend on vibes and the Aura Dance With Me dance studio.

The Latin American Music Ensemble is offered in fall and spring semesters and open to students of all majors by audition. For more information, email Valencia: jvalenc@uark.edu.