Latin jazzmaster is spring artist

Legendary Latin Jazz percussionist, teacher and composer John Santos headlines a season of outstanding Latin music – and a semester of learning about the roots of “America’s Music” – with the premier artists defining Afro-Caribbean music today.

Santos is the spring 2002 Arts Institute Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His residency is co-sponsored by the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program, the School of Music and others. The residency is part of the year-long series: “Multiple Caribbeans: Performance, Displacement and Identities.”

Santos is an accomplished percussionist, composer and educator, and founder and director of The Machete Ensemble, a premier San Francisco Bay Area Latin-Jazz ensemble.

Beginning in mid-February, the Santos residency offers plenty of opportunities for the public to learn about and experience the best in contemporary Latin Jazz – from an extensive concert schedule to a free lecture/demonstration series at the Madison nightclub Luther’s Blues, 1401 University Ave. – “The Anatomy of Jazz Latino” – featuring such prominent musical artists as Giovanni Hidalgo and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. For more information, call (608) 262-2811 or visit the Arts Institute.

Santos will also teach an Advanced Percussion Ensemble as well as participate in campus and community outreach activities with the Sin Fronteras project and UW–Madison PEOPLE pre-college program for middle-school students. Santos’ residency will culminate in late April with a keynote lecture for the Multiple Caribbeans International Conference and a performance of The Machete Ensemble with special guests the Ko-thi Dance Company at the Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St. This Arts Institute Interdisciplinary Arts Residency is co-sponsored by the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program and the School of Music with the participation of the Afro-American Studies Department and the Dance Program. Community partners include Luther’s Blues, WORT Community Radio, Isthmus, the Madison-Camaguey Sister City Association, the Cardinal Bar, and Centro Hispano of Dane County.

Residency highlights

• “The Anatomy of Jazz Latino.” A seven-week lecture and demonstration series with John Santos offers students the opportunity to explore and deepen their knowledge of African-based rhythms in the Americas, particularly within the Circum-Caribbean region and the historical development of diverse musical styles within the Latin Jazz tradition. The public may attend related concerts and performances by visiting artists at Luther’s Blues, 1401 University Ave. Events are free unless otherwise noted. Meeting from 5-6:30 p.m., highlighted lectures and demonstrations are Thursday, Feb. 21 with Giovanni Hidalgo; Friday, March 8 with Omar Sosa; Wednesday, March 20 with Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Thursday, April 4 / John Benitez Latin Jazz Quartet. Hidalgo also plans to play Thursday, Feb. 21, 9:30 p.m., at Luther’s Blues, in an all-ages show. Tickets:$20 general, $12 UW–Madison students with ID. Information: (608) 257-1184.
• Friday, March 8: John Santos and the Omar Sosa Trio with Geoff Brennan at the 4th Annual Sin Fronteras Multicultural Extravaganza, 8 p.m., Mills Hall, Mosse Humanities Building, 455 North Park St. Tickets:$10 general; $8 students (UW-Madison, K-12 and other).Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, (608) 262-2201. Cuban composer and pianist Omar Sosa brings the economy of a Thelonious Monk and the melodic richness of a Keith Jarrett to the rhythmic power of Afro-Cuban music.
• Wednesday, March 20: Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, 9:30 p.m., Luther’s Blues,. all-ages show. Tickets: $20 general, $12 UW–Madison students with ID.
• Thursday, April 4: John Benitez Quartet, 9:30 p.m., Luther’s Blues, all-ages show. Tickets: $15 general; $10 UW–Madison students with ID.
• Saturday, April 13: Santos solo recital, 8 p.m., Morphy Hall, Mosse Humanities Building.
• Tuesday, April 23: Afro-Latin Percussion Ensemble, with Santos as director, 7:30 pm, Mills Recital Hall, Mosse Humanities Building.
• Thursday, April 25: Santos’ keynote lecture, 7 p.m., 109 Union South.
• Saturday, April 27: Santos and The Machete Ensemble with the Ko-thi Dance Company, 8 p.m., Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St. Tickets: $28 general; $27 Union members; $13.50 UW–Madison students, Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, (608) 262-2201.