Willy Rodriguez's Exploraciones Ponceñas' at Jazz Libre! at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center

Arts for Art is pleased to announce “Jazz Libre” a three night program in partnership with the Clemente, highlighting the music of the African Diaspora in Latin America. As a special component of the series, audience members are invited to dance to the music.

All Jazz Libre performances feature music at the intersection of Caribbean, Latin American, and African American traditions. As drummer Willy Rodriguez describes it, "this project will explore what it means to be a free Caribbean native. Expression without chains or colonialism. A free improvisation from the Puerto Rican perspective."...

read more

Arts for Art is pleased to announce “Jazz Libre” a three night program in partnership with the Clemente, highlighting the music of the African Diaspora in Latin America. As a special component of the series, audience members are invited to dance to the music.

All Jazz Libre performances feature music at the intersection of Caribbean, Latin American, and African American traditions. As drummer Willy Rodriguez describes it, "this project will explore what it means to be a free Caribbean native. Expression without chains or colonialism. A free improvisation from the Puerto Rican perspective."

Jazz Libre takes place as part of Borimix Puerto Rico Fest, a month-long celebration of Puerto Rican and Latin American art in a range of mediums and disciplines taking place at the Clemente.

Willy Rodriguez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and began playing drums at age thirteen. He received his musical start playing throughout Puerto Rico in rock and pop bands. Willy has studied with a host of famed teachers such as Terri-Lyne Carrington, Yoron Israel, Ralph Peterson, Greg Osby, Miguel Zenon, Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Moses, Billy Hart and Cecil McBee, among others. He has performed alongside some of the premier musicians in jazz including Randy Weston, Dave Holland and Dave Liebman, with whom he has recorded and played with extensively. Boston Symphony Hall, Roccella Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival, Cape Verde Jazz Festival, Berklee Performance Center, Jordan Hall, and Mechanics Hall are just some of the renowned festivals and venues Willy has performed at. He has appeared on a variety of recordings including Ceremony, the most recent release from NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman.

show less