The Inside Latin Jazz series continues to offer fascinating and penetrating onstage interviews and performances with leading Latin Jazz artists moderated by Grammy-winning flute soloist and music professor at Whittier College, Danilo Lozano. The next event will feature Mongorama, a new 9-piece, latin-jazz ensemble, that feature some of the top Latin Jazz artists in Southern California. The program promises to be something every lover of latin jazz music will not want to miss. Presented by Whittier College Music Department and Emerson Bran Management this performance will take place Tuesday, February 21 at 8p.m. in the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 67060 Painter Ave, Whittier, CA 90608. For more information call the Shannon Center box office, 562. 907.4203.
Mongorama, which was formed by KJazz radio personality Jose Rizo (host of Jazz on the Latin Side), was nominated for a 2012 Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album. This ensemble explores the early Mongo Santamaria charanga-jazz material of the 50's and early 60's. Conga legend Mongo Santamaria, saxophonist Chombo Silva and flautist Rolando Lozano performed an exciting latin jazz sound driven by cuban charanga rhythms and old-school straight ahead jazz. Mongorama celebrates this music preserving the "old-school" element, yet refreshing it with a modern perspective which makes it that much more invigorating.
Mongorama features tenor saxophonist Justo Almario and flautist Danilo Lozano revisiting the explorations of saxophonist Chombo Silva and flautist Rolando Lozano (Danilo's Dad). Rounding out the ensemble will be Adonis Puentes (lead vocals), Ramon Banda (timbales), Joey De Leon (congas), Alfredo Ortiz (perc/vocals), Rene Camacho (bass), Joe Rotondi or Oscar Hernandez (piano), and Dayren Santamaria (violin).
The forum for Inside Latin Jazz is small, allowing the audience to interact with the artist. This educational outreach series is meant to be very intimate and inviting.
