past exhibits

Latin Jazz: la combinaciÓn perfecta

July 16, 2005 - December 10, 2005

Developed by Sites, the Smithsonian Institution, Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta, is a colorful and innovative exhibition that includes text panels, photographic banners, hand-illustrated maps and charts, cased artifacts and audio-visual stations to tell the story of the development of Latin jazz through musical exchange between the U.S. and countries of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean.

In the words of New Orleans jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton, jazz was born with a “Spanish tinge.” In the 19th century, musical traditions from the Caribbean and the United States migrated and mixed, resulting in the emergence of complex new sounds. Percussionist assumed a dramatic new importance, new instruments found their way into the jazz lexicon, and the African heritage of both Caribbean and American music became more pronounced.

The California African American Museum is proud to have KPFK radio as one of our media sponsors for this event.  For more information on KPFK radio click here.

sampling of works presented