In the attempt to musically represent the cultural diaspora of Latinos in Chicago and to share the music of Latin America with a global audience, The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble was formed. Originally from Nicaragua, and raised in Miami, Florida, pianist, composer, and co-founder, Darwin Noguera, has spent the past five years as a student and performer, paying homage in his music to American, Afro-Cuban, and Caribbean jazz traditions. In the spirit of musical experimentation and fusion, Darwin has fervently collaborated with artists immersed in the sounds of South and Central America. Dissecting the essence of these sounds, Darwin and co-founder Victor Garcia are working to develop a fresh jazz idiom that highlights these underexposed musical traditions while creating sounds emotionally communicative to audiences of any culture.

In the genre of Latin Big Band, Chicago is home to the Dos Claves Orchestra, a highly talented youth ensemble focusing on early Afro-Cuban Mambo, and the Columbia College Latin Ensemble. It is essential that a world-class city such as Chicago give rise to a professional Latin ensemble that highlights the talents of its skilled musicians in the field. Additionally, it is imperative that Chicago become an active member of the worldwide diaspora of Pan-Latin music. With the examples of the pioneering Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra, the Paquito d'Rivera Pan- American Ensemble, and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center, Darwin Noguera and Victor Garcia seeks to form a multi-ethnic group that will serve as an ambassador of Latin Jazz fusion and Chicago's energy for musical innovation.

The ensemble hopes to forge partnerships with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Columbia College, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (directed by Jon Faddis), the Hot House, and the Chicago Symphony Center. Additionally, the group intends on serving students of the music by continuing to offer opportunities in educational outreach, having already collaborated with energetic students at Chicago's Northside College Preparatory High School.

Noguera and Garcia have formed a multi-ethnic group immersed in the sounds of the Caribbean and South and Central America. The Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble will serve as an ambassador of Latin Jazz traditions in musical fusion, dance, sound experimentation, and Chicago's energy for musical innovation.

Be sure to support the ensemble and experience an exciting night of musical exchange, as the group opens the 2006 Jazz en Clave Festival on Wednesday, November 8th, at the Hot House: 31 E. Balbo, Chicago, Illinois.