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  • KING OF SALSA WILLIE COLÓN, LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES AND THE AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA BRING LATIN JAZZ TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
  • Aug. 11, 2004
  • Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra Makes Hollywood Bowl Debut

    WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, AT 8 PM

    Sponsored by Blue Shield of California with media support provided by KKJZ

    The Hollywood Bowl adds spice to its Latin Jazz Night on Wednesday, August 11, at 8 p.m. with a program featuring the King of Salsa, Willie Colón, and Los Hombres Calientes. The program also includes Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra in its Hollywood Bowl debut.

    The evening captures the essence of Latin jazz grooves, presenting different styles of the genre. Colón demonstrates his swinging salsa, while Los Hombres Calientes present their soulful Brazilian and Afro-Cuban flavors. The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra opens the evening with its big band sounds.

    The Jazz at the Bowl series continues with New Orleans Night on August 18 featuring the Neville Brothers, Terence Blanchard, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band; Cool, Pure, 200-Proof featuring the Zawinul Syndicate, the Dave Holland Big Band, and the Michael Brecker Quindectet; and A Night with Blue Note on September 1 celebrating the legendary jazz record label with Van Morrison, Dianne Reeves and special guests.

    Trombone player, composer, and bandleader, WILLIE COLÓN was one of the pioneers of Latin-American music. Despite initial criticism, Colón's album El Malo has become known as one of the first albums to feature the "New York Sound" that sparked a renewed interest in Latin music during the 1970s. In an article praising Colón's influence, The Boston Globe wrote, "using trombones as lead instruments (instead of trumpets or flutes as was customary in Afro-Cuban groups), blending in jazz harmonies and jazz-style soloing, Colón, along with pianist and bandleader Eddie Palmieri, largely defined the sound of Salsa." Colón has been instrumental in the careers of such Latin musicians as Ruben Blades, who first sang with Colón's band in 1975, and Celia Cruz, for whom Colón has produced such albums as Only They Could Have Done This Album in 1977 and the highly successful duet album, Celia and Willie in 1981. Colón has also produced albums for Ismael Miranda, Sophy, Soledad Bravo, and the late Hector Lavoe, who sang with his band in the early '70s. Inspired by the music of various cultures, Colón has recorded with such musicians as Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro and David Byrne. In addition to eleven Grammy nominations and one Grammy award, Colón has received a CHUBB fellowship from Yale University, the most prestigious award given by the Ivy League school.

    New Orleans-based LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES is made up of trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and long-time percussionist Bill Summers. Together they create a sizzling blend of Latin jazz flavored with Brazilian and Afro-Cuban soul. The group made its debut in 1998 at Snug Harbor in New Orleans and within a month had moved to the House of Blues and signed a record deal. Their fourth album (their third received a Grammy nomination), Vodou Dance, is another musical journey around Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti and western Cuba. They last performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 2003's Playboy Jazz Festival.

    In 2002 Jazz at Lincoln Center inaugurated a new ensemble, the AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA. Led by pianist Arturo O'Farrill, son of the late pioneering composer and bandleader Chico O'Farrill, the ALJO comprises 18 prominent soloists from the Latin jazz scene. This ensemble performs classics of the Afro-Latin jazz tradition and commission new works. ALJO makes its Hollywood Bowl debut with this performance.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    Wednesday, August 11, at 8:00 p.m.

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood

    Latin Jazz Night

    WILLIE COLÓN

    LOS HOMBRES CALIENTES

    JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER'S AFRO-LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA

    Sponsored by Blue Shield of California with media support provided by KKJZ

    Tickets ($1 - $40.50) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at HollywoodBowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details. For tickets, general information, or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Ryan Jimenez, 213.972.3405