Latin Jazz developed into a major style in the United States, but in reality, it’s a music with global roots; so there’s no reason that it should be restrained to the States. Jazz artists learned the appeal of Europe long ago, and for years, many of them have regularly visited the old country. Many elements brought jazz artists to Europe – a wider appreciation for the art form, many more venues, and a number of major festivals are just some of the reasons that jazz musicians continue to visit European countries. Some jazz artists like Dexter Gordon felt such a major appreciation for their art form in Europe that they left the confines of the United States and made Europe their new home. Latin Jazz artists learned the appeal of Europe more gradually, as leaders like Tito Puente and Machito built the popularity of Latin Jazz through European tours. The demand grew for Latin Jazz artists across Europe and soon the overseas festivals and nightclubs became a regular destination for Latin Jazz artists. In the past couple of months, Latin Jazz artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Sofia Rei Koutsovitis, Eddie Palmieri, Michel Camilo, Lucia Pulido, Arturo Sandoval, Edward Perez, and Jovino Santos Neto have all performed in Europe, meeting appreciative crowds. There’s room for all varieties of Latin Jazz and an invitation to both experienced and young performers; European audiences simply love their Latin Jazz. As the tradition becomes even further established in Europe, Stateside Latin Jazz artists may find a second home in a number of European countries, or at least a regular tour destination.

In another example of this expanding connection, New York based vocalist Corina Bartra recently performed with her Azu Project in Germany. In Eastern Europe for two concerts, Bartra and her group performed at the Goldbeck House in Hamburg and the A-Trane club in Berlin. Promoting her recent album Afro-Peruvian Jazz Celebration, Bartra made a smart move expanding her audience into the European circuit with these concerts. The album gathers a combination of new material and tracks culled from earlier recordings. The tracks feature original compositions, Afro-Peruvian arrangements of jazz standards, and traditional songs embellished with a jazz influence. In many ways, it serves as a perfect introduction to Bartra’s repertoire, giving new listeners a wide view of her musical perspective. Bartra’s music brings together a strong connection to Afro-Peruvian music, a taste of jazz, dips into experimentation, and her highly personal approach to vocals. The subtleties of this combination result in intriguing music that presents listeners with entertainment, exposure to cultural traditions, and thought provoking material. These factors work perfectly for a European audience, who will often engage the music’s artistic elements on a much deeper level. European audience members that experienced Bartra’s performance undoubtedly walked away with a new appreciation for Afro-Peruvian Jazz, and those that picked up Afro-Peruvian Jazz Celebration will be hooked on Bartra’s music.

Today’s Latin Jazz Photo Album features several pictures from the Goldbeck House concert by Corina Bartra & Her Azu Project. The pictures certainly tell a story, featuring images of intensive and focused performance; it looks like the audience got a great show. Thanks to Corina Bartra for providing the photos for today’s Photo Album. Enjoy!

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Corina Bartra & Her Azu Project At The Goldbeck House In Hamburg, Germany

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Looking for more from Corina Bartra? Check out some of her older albums:

Son Zumbon

Son Zumbon

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Do you have pictures to contribute to the Latin Jazz photo album? I’d love to have everyone in the Latin Jazz community contribute! I’ll be posting five to ten pictures a week - I’m looking for live performance shots, not promo pics. I’d like to keep them centered around one artist per week, but if you’ve got another idea, let’s talk. So come on Latin Jazz photographers, musicians, and fans - let’s put some more memorable pictures in the Latin Jazz Photo Album! Get my contact info HERE

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Check Out These Related Posts:
Latin Jazz Photo Album: Bobby Sanabria & The Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Latin Jazz Photo Album: Charlie Sepulveda
Latin Jazz Photo Album: Chembo Corniel & Grupo Chaworo, Part 1
Exploring Latin Jazz: 2 Afro-Peruvian Jazz Albums From Vocalist Corina Bartra

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