Scenes from Life: Cuba!

November 13, 2015 at 7:30PM, Auditorium Theatre

Completing a full exchange that began during a historic week in U.S.-Cuba Relations in December 2014, thirty-seven student musicians from Cuba’s national conservatory of the arts, the Universidad de las Artes (ISA), traveled to Chicago as guests of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic (CJP) for a week-long cultural exchange that culminated with a landmark performance with CJP at the Auditorium Theatre. scenes from life sponsorChicagoStateU 2
Watch the CBS Evening News segment on ""Musicians Orchestrate Growing Harmony between U.S. and Cuba".

Press

Splash Magazine - Review (November 18, 2015)
“Cubans and Americans making music together for the first time in the United States ushered in a new era of collaboration between the two former adversaries – and it was wonderful to hear.[...]The extra flavor that the Cuban musicians added helped create more layers to the songs which somehow punctuated the theme of partnership on the night.[...]This show was truly historic – but it had even deeper meaning.  The collaboration between the American and Cuban musicians on display Friday night in Chicago should be looked upon as an example of how US-Cuban relationship should move forward:  a collaboration of partnership, harmony and a whole lot of rhythm!”
-Keith Gerbosi

Border Radio - Review (November 23, 2015)
“The entire CJP+ISA Orchestra came together for another powerful take of an older CJP tune before the night's premiere, Scenes From Life, a work composed especially for this collaboration. This new work perfectly captured the essence of everything the collaboration stood for: Davis' third stream jazz/classical aesthetic matched to Cuban soul and sensibility. ...I was hearing something unprecedented: An 80 piece orchestra roaring with the power and finesse of  Machito's big band in a piece every bit as ambitious as Tanga, Mario Bauzá's famous Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite.”
-Don Macica