On Wednesday, January 8, members of the CCLA network participated in the panel “Jazz in Latin America: Expanding the Conversation on International Touring” at the Jazz Congress, hosted by the prestigious organization Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City—an event that brings together the jazz industry from across the United States.
The panel was proposed, coordinated, and moderated by Matt De León, booking agent for Latin America and Education Manager at Music Works International. It explored the jazz ecosystem and the opportunities for touring throughout Latin America, with a focus on the unique dynamics of the region.
Key players in the Latin American jazz scene took part in the conversation, including Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana; Natacha Cruz, Director and Founder of the Argentine Jazz Circuit; Jordi Funtanet, Director of M Jazz Festival and the bar/venue Parker & Lenox in Mexico City; Alejandro Orellana, Senior Programming Advisor for M Jazz Chile and Programming Director of WOMAD Chile; María Claudia Parias, General Director of the District Institute of the Arts; and Heloisa Pisani, Director of International Affairs at SESC São Paulo.
In a packed room, the discussion addressed the current state of the jazz ecosystem in Latin America, highlighted some of the territory’s unique characteristics and market challenges, and shared experiences for designing effective tours. In particular, the importance of working in reciprocity and building horizontal partnerships was emphasized.
The conversation helped position the Latin American region within one of the most important international jazz congresses in the world. The panel was broadcast live on Instagram and can be replayed [here].
