The sun-soaked sounds of Latin America have cast a glow on American jazz since the early 20th century when New Orleans musicians traveled regularly to Havana. They returned with the intriguing rhythms that eventually morphed into the infectious energy of Afro-Cuban jazz in the hands of Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo in New York in the 1940s. Twenty years later, the relaxed groove of Bossa Nova wafted in like an ocean breeze from Rio de Janeiro as Brazilians Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto teamed up with Stan Getz. These Latin jazz styles will be featured in our April 27th programming, which includes a performance and talk at Spurlock Museum and a Latin Jazz party at the Rose Bowl Tavern. It will feature some of CU’s most-accomplished international jazz artists like guitarists José Gobbo and Beto Rodrigues, vocalist Xintian Yu, pianist Paul Johnston, drummer Max Osawa, and bassist Evani Pluta!  They will be joined by Jason Finkelman and Jenelle Orcherton in casual conversations about their first loves of Latin jazz.  Both programs are free and open to the general public.