Our fun and interactive performance will introduce students to the Latin and African beats that are the rhythm of Latin Jazz. Students will also learn about jazz history and the process of jazz improvisation. We perform a wide variety of songs from a repertoire that includes music by Louis Armstrong, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, and Horace Silver. Students will be involved in call and response and teacher selected students will dance to the band in a rousing final number (by following the dancing of one of the band members). We can also include teacher selected band students to play with us by having the students prepare one of our tunes in advance. La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet has been a regular favorite in the schools for many years. We are engaging and exciting for all age levels.
A few reactions: “The band was awesome!! Incredibly skilled, knowledgeable and engaging”
“It really was a very complete educational performance”
“This was a great assembly! The students were well-behaved and the music was fantastic!
Click here to view a tune performed by our group https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1775933072587044
Artist Background
La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet comprises players from North Carolina, one of whom is originally from the Dominican Republic. We perform throughout North Carolina in schools, clubs and at festivals. The group is led and directed by Gregg Gelb, who for over 30 years has taught and played jazz throughout the Triangle. Gelb was the recipient of the Raleigh Medal of Arts in 2018 and a NC Arts Council Jazz Fellowship, and is the Director of the National award winning Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble. The group includes Ramon Ortiz, a Latin Jazz percussionist who is a native of the Dominican Republic. Steve Anderson is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been published on fourteen compact discs, four of which have appeared on the Grammy Awards ballots; Beverly Botsford, a cross-cultural percussionist and educator who has worked with Chuck Davis and the African American Dance Ensemble, Urban Bush Women, and the American Dance Festival; and our bassist is Andy Kleindienst, who is also a trombonist, educator and co-director for Orquesta GarDel.
Search Criteria
- Program Type: Performance
- Discipline: Music
- Grade Level: Elementary, High, Middle
- Cultural Context: African-American, Caribbean, Hispanic
- Accepts bookings in Johnston County