Six Afro-Cuban jazz musicians from around the world will be coming to USM for five days of live performances and workshops starting next Thursday. The musicians are part of a group called Un Mondo, which translates as “One World,” in an event hosted by the School of Music and the Cultural Affairs Committee.
The idea for the workshop came from Gary Wittner, a part-time member of the USM Music faculty. Wittner is a world-renowned jazz guitarist who has traveled the globe, jamming with musicians throughout Europe and Africa. “It was my desire,” he says, “to bring together some of these players to create a multi-cultural band and bring it to USM.” The workshops will include musicians from Ecuador, South Africa and Cuba.
Some of the weekend’s activities will be limited to students in the School of Music, but several events are open to the public.
At 2p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, Un Mondo will give a free, public workshop in Corthell Music Hall in Gorham about the various styles of music that comprise the Afro-Cuban sound: American Jazz, South African Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Son, a traditional vocal style from Cuba.
Following the workshop, Un Mondo will be performing live in Corthell Hall in Gorham at 8p.m. Tickets are priced at $15 for the general public, $10 for USM employees and alumni, and $5 for students. Come out and enjoy the Afro-Cuban grooves, and don’t forget your dancing shoes!
The last event, a Latin dance demonstration, will be on Monday October 19th at 2pm in Russell Hall on the Gorham Campus. It’s also free and open to the public.
Over all, the weekend is shaping up to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us at USM to study with master musicians from around the world and experience a rich musical tradition.