Hosting Our First “Joy of Latin Jazz” Interactive Concert

On a cold February evening in Ithaca, something truly heartwarming took place at the Foundation of Light: the debut of our Joy of Latin Jazz Interactive Concert. Months of preparation, rehearsals, and collaboration all came together to create an experience that was not just musical, but communal, educational, and deeply joyful.

We were thoroughly prepared for this event. Our band, Sunset Salsa, had carefully gone over the script and repertoire, and we even ran a dress rehearsal with friends and family weeks in advance. This extra preparation made a big difference. From the very beginning of the evening, we felt a warm connection with the audience that grew stronger as the night unfolded.

Welcome & Rhythmic Foundations

After welcoming everyone, our percussionist Michael Wellen kicked things off by teaching the audience how to clap both 3-2 and 2-3 clave patterns, the foundational rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music. The audience clapped along as Jorge Cuevas joined in on congas, layering the groove with authentic flavor. We then invited attendees to pick up shakers and other percussion instruments to play along as we launched into a fun, not-too-fast salsa tune to keep things accessible.

Dancing Into Joy

Next, Jorge led the group in learning the basic merengue dance step. His experience teaching in schools really shone through. He even introduced more advanced moves like twirls, which made the experience especially fun for both beginners and seasoned dancers. My wife, who normally doesn’t dance much, told me later how much she enjoyed participating and even tried out some of the twirls. I knew right then that the instruction had landed well.

Visual Art Meets Latin Jazz

Our bassist, Doug Robinson, introduced the tune “Afro Blue,” originally composed by Mongo Santamaria and made famous by John Coltrane. Doug explained the emotional tone of the piece and invited the audience to contribute to two collective paintings, expressing how the music made them feel. The results were two beautiful visual works, created collaboratively by attendees of all ages. This activity engaged the audience’s visual/spatial intelligence and brought out surprising artistic interpretations of the music.

Reflecting Through Bachata

Doug then shared the background of Juan Luis Guerra’s “Bachata en Fukuoka,” written during the artist’s visit to Japan. The story of a Dominican musician being embraced by Japanese fans resonated with the theme of global connection through music. Doug asked the audience to imagine how Guerra might have felt and to write a few words or reflections. Several people volunteered to read their heartfelt responses aloud, providing a glimpse into the emotional power of music and storytelling.

Stories of Fear and Adventure

Then I took over to lead a segment on intrapersonal reflection. We performed “Nardis,” a jazz tune by Bill Evans, but with a bold Mozambique groove and distorted guitar that gave it an edge. Before we played, I invited audience members to reflect on a personal experience that was both scary and exciting—an emotional rollercoaster. Afterward, people shared stories, and one in particular stood out: someone recounted a vulnerable conversation with a difficult boss that ended in unexpected harmony and understanding. It was powerful and moving to see how music could stir such authentic storytelling.

Jazz Structure Made Simple

Next, we shifted gears into cognitive engagement. I introduced the jazz standard “There Is No Greater Love” and explained how jazz, while sometimes sounding chaotic to newcomers, is actually based on clear and repeating structures. I broke down the AABA form and demonstrated each section with the band. The audience counted the sections with their fingers—one for the first A section, two for the repeat, three for the bridge (B section), and four for the final A. To my delight, even the children were following along, and one woman later said in her testimonial that she had never understood how jazz was structured until that moment.

Call-and-Response and Pure Fun

We wrapped up the interactive portion with “Pa’lla Voy” by Marc Anthony. Jorge led a call-and-response rhythm session, where the audience clapped back patterns played by the band. I then played short melodic lines on guitar for everyone to sing back to me. I threw in a few complex phrases just for fun, and to my surprise, the crowd nailed them—and laughed along with us. The energy was high, the room was buzzing, and people were truly in the moment.

A Joyful Finale

To close the night, we played a few more dance tunes while people got up and moved. Members of the Salsa Ithaca community had come out in support, dancing throughout the night and even participating in the activities between songs. It was exactly the blend of community, culture, and music we had hoped for.

Looking Ahead

The Joy of Latin Jazz Interactive Concert was a beautiful success, and we’re so excited to bring it to more communities. Whether it’s a school, community center, or cultural event, this program brings people together in a way that’s educational, inspiring, and above all, joyful.

If you’re part of an organization or community that could benefit from hosting this kind of event, I’d love to connect. Let’s explore how we can bring the rhythm, connection, and joy of Latin jazz to your space.

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