Miami Jazz Society presents Oriente
09/12/12, 7:00p
Miami Tower Sky Lounge
100 SE 2nd St
11th Floor
Miami Fl 33131
www.miamijazzsociety.com
FREE Admission, Open to the Public, Cash bar and snacks available. Reception from 6-7p

A major Afro-Cuban jazz group, Oriente was formed in 1993 by guitarist Egidio Balzola. Oriente is named after one of Cuba’s six provinces that existed until 1976. The colorful band mixes together Afro-Cuban music with the influences of straightahead jazz, blues, Brazilian, Caribbean and New Orleans jazz. The group first caught on in 1994 when it played at the Snug Harbor Jazz Club and at concerts at Loyola and Tulane Universities, and it has been popular ever since. The members of Oriente have played and recorded with such notables as Mongo Santamaria, Cachao, Willie Nelson, Jaco Pastorius, Celia Cruz, Candido, Babatunde Olatunji and even Yma Sumac. Oriente has recorded three CDs so far (most recent is Ten Spaces in Time). They have performed at such festivals as the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, TwiRoPa and Jeff Fest, MOJA Pan-African and Piccolo Spoleto Festivals, the Caribbean Soul Celebration and the South Florida Jazz & Heritage Festival. They have also toured England, Germany and Iceland. Oriente’s repertoire ranges from Charles Mingus and Jaco Pastorius to Bob Marley, with many stops in between.