Is your jazz ensemble’s performance of Afro-Caribbean music lacking spark or just plain boring? Learn rehearsal techniques used to prepare Latin rhythm influenced jazz charts. Diaz will demonstrate a step-by-step process to prepare this genre. He will also cover the use of traditional Latin American rhythms and its fusion with American musical styles such as jazz, rhythm and blues, and hip-hop to enhance the students’ experience. Diaz will demonstrate basic dance steps.
Jose Antonio Diaz
- Biographical Information
Jose Antonio Diaz is the Director of the MacArthur HS Jazz Ensemble and Artistic Director for Diaz Music Institute in Houston, TX. His groups have performed with such artists as Eddie Palmieri, Jon Faddis, Poncho Sanchez, Dave Valentin, and Arturo Sandoval.
Diaz's groups have performed for the Midwest Clinic, IAJE, MENC, OMEA, TBA, and TMEA. Diaz's success with the MacArthur HS Jazz Program was the subject of a featured cover story in SBO Magazine and Band Director's Guide Magazine. He received a Down Beat Magazine Award and was selected by FOX 26 and Univision TV stations as a Hispanic Hero. Recently, Diaz was inducted into the Texas Christian University Band of Fame. In June 2008 Jose received the prestigious Jefferson Award.
Diaz is currently on the Board of Jazz Education Network and is co-author of Middle School Music Expressions™ and Jazz Expressions™ (Alfred Music).