Rubin Foundation Grantee Casita Maria’s BLITZ & BLITZ Buzz Performance Program
Mariachi Academy who played on May 21, St. Athanasius Courtyard
878 Tiffany St. Image courtesy of Casita Maria. [image description: a group of people smile for the camera in a recording studio, in front of them are microphones, mic stands and large drums, in the background there are neon lights and graffiti]
Provocative New Approaches to Increasing Jazz Audiences in The Bronx
ARTURO O’FARRILL and CASITA MARIA CENTER FOR ARTS & EDUCATION are presenting BLITZ, a new Bronx-based latin jazz ensemble, throughout 2018. Created by multi-Grammy award-winning, pianist, composer and bandleader Arturo O’Farrill. Blitz is a form of “guerrilla jazz.” Its mission is to breakdown the traditional boundaries, stereotypes and preconceived notions around jazz in order to promote its growth as a genre and ability to reach new audiences.
Premiering original music inspired by local Bronxites, the musicians: Arturo O'Farrill (piano), Will Calhoun (percussion), Bam Bam Rodríguez (bass), Alejandro Avilés (saxophone), Kalí Rodríguez-Peña (trumpet), and Lucianna Padmore (drums) will be performing with interdisciplinary artist collaborators including Baba Israel (beat-boxing), Liza Jessie Peterson (spoken word), Libaña Maraza (Garifuna punta), Mariachi Academy of New York, Baron Ambrosia (chef and “Cultural Ambassador” for The Bronx), Helga Davis (opera-fusion vocalist), and Legacy Women (Afro-Caribbean palos / salves) in nontraditional venues throughout the South Bronx such as a bodega, carwash and tattoo parlor.
BLITZ is completely FREE – that means no tickets, RSVP’s or even advanced notifications are needed. Inspired by the origins of afro latin jazz, the music takes place in the spaces of daily life, and work.
These free concerts are part of the Building Demands for the Arts initiative and made possible by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts and New York City Department of Cultural affairs. All events are open to the public and suitable for all ages.
For more information and schedule of programs click here.