Guitarra Azul is an exciting mix of rumba flamenca, Latin jazz and world sounds, with intoxicating Latin percussion and fiery Spanish guitars. Inspired flamenco-influenced versions of classic pop favorites and high-octane renditions of songs by rumba flamenca masters Jesse Cook, Ottmar Lierbert and Luis Villegas will have audiences clapping and dancing.

For more information visit www.sheddaquarium.org

"...attractive timbres and melodies that the Argentinean singer and multi-instrumentalist has crafted for this marvelous record. this record sounds like it was made with the window open, the breeze blowing, and the sun streaming in."
(Dusted Magazine, US)

Latin Jazz Festival                                                                                          July 11 @ 7pm FREE |GRATIS

Three bands taking the stage include the Carlos Garcia’s Cuatrissimo, vocalist Nythia Rivera, and Jose Papo Santiago’s Infraverde.

Humboldt Park Boathouse
1359 N. Sacramento Avenue
Chicago, IL
United States

El Guincho                                                                                                             July 20 @ Chicago's Union Park | Pitchfork Music Festival 08

Pablo Diaz-Reixa left his Canary Islands home at the age of 14 to pursue his dream of being a soccer and tennis star, but after six years of wandering through Europe, Pablo wound up back in Spain in pursuit of another passion: music. Over time he adopted the DJ moniker El Guincho and became known for melding island, worldbeat, Afropop, doo-wop, dance sounds and more. His ’07 offering Alegranza was released in Europe in late 2007 and topped multiple Spanish top ten lists.

Made in Chicago: WORLD CLASS JAZZ
FREE SUMMER MUSIC SERIES RETURNS FOR A FOURTH SEASON AT MILLENNIUM PARK;
SIX FREE CONCERTS FEATURING TOP JAZZ PERFORMERS AT THE JAY PRITZKER PAVILION, JULY AND AUGUST 2008
 

50 years of Bossa Nova featuring Paulinho Garcia’s Orquestra Brazzilli           Thursday, July 24, 6:30 pm

Celebrate the music of Brazil and 50 years of the Bossa Nova. This marriage of subtle Brazilian rhythms and American bebop jazz inspired the famous song “Girl from Ipanema” by StanGetz and Joao Gillberto. By blending jazz sensibilities with his native roots, Brazilian-born Chicago guitarist and singer Paulinho Garcia takes us on a journey to discover how the Bossa Nova came to be. Accompanied by the warm, pristine vocals of Grazyna Auguscik and a star-studded cast of Chicago musicians including Greg Fishman (saxophone), Jim Gailloreto and The Hawk String Quartet, this innovative ensemble is joined by special guests, Julien Labro (accordion) and bossa nova master musician João Donato (piano).

On Friday, July 25th, 2008, Platform One Entertainment will host Dare To Dream at the House of Blues Chicago featuring multi-platinum international act Cypress Hill that will raise funding and major awareness for The Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, a not-for-profit committed to creating, supporting, and sustaining effective strategies to END homelessness in Chicago.

Over the course of a year, between 2.3 and 3.5 million people experience homelessness nationwide and approximately 166,000 people experience homelessness in the Chicago Metropolitan area.

Made in Chicago: Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble                  July 31, 2008 @ 6:30pm FREE | GRATIS

Sample the savory sounds of Chicago Jazz this summer during the fourth annual Made in Chicago series. Every Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz concert kicks off with aspiring musicians from Chicago-area elementary and high schools, as part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Links Student Ensembles. They improvise and show off their chops before the pros take the stage.

The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble continutes its multi-national quest of incorporating Afro-Cuban jazz, Brazilian jazz, flamenco, Central-American and Peruvian folkloric rhythms into their compositions while staying true to Latin jazz traditions. Founded by Mexican-born trumpeter/composer Victor Garcia and Nicaraguan-born pianist/composer Darwin Alejandro Noguera, tonight's concert features Chicago's finest Latin jazz performers, with guests Steve Turre (trombone, shells); Paoli Mejias (percussion); Howard Levy (piano/harmonica) and Brian Lynch (trumpet). Presented in cooperation with the Jazz Institute of Chicago

Millenium Park
Michigan & Washington
Chicago, IL

Saturday, May 31st, 2008. by Janet Torres

The Miami based band Tiempo Libre and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra performed at the Ravinia opening night. The show was called “Rumba Sinfonica” which is the mixture of two different musical genres like Latin jazz and classical instrumental.

Grammy – nominated Tiempo Libre has become one of the most popular bands. Their seductive rhythms and irresistible dances heritaged from their native Cuba exposed their musical traditions shared to the public who enjoyed the show from the whole evening.

The show started with the performance of Rumba Sinfonica followed by Luna Negra Dance Theather interpreting Tiempo Libre’s music. The audience was highly delighted to listen and dance the amazing mixture of musical flavors.
 

Friday, April 25th, 2008. by Janet Torres

The University of Chicago presented at the Mandel Hall one of the most fascinated Brazilian singers. Luciana Souza, three-time Grammy-nominee, came to Chicago to present records of her new CD called “The New Bossa Nova”.

This musician has mixed different styles of music like jazz, Brazilian and classical music. As a singer and composer, Luciana broke boundaries and challenged herself creating a new Bossa Nova style using poetry in many of her songs and compositions.

The incredible voice of this wonderful vocalist, accompanied by Keith Ganz in the guitar, Matt Aronoff in the bass, and Dan Rieser in the drums delighted the audience during the entire show.