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* Use this link to join our virtua l program: SCLSNJ YouTube Channel
\nThe Rutgers Afro-Cuban Per cussion Ensemble was created in 2009 to develop different points of view r egarding percussion music and facilitate the learning of traditional Afro- Cuban and Afro-Latin music. Since its creation\, we have put together many performances encompassing a vast array of styles and genres within Afro-L atin percussion as a whole. Our work introduces the study of improvisation \, arrangement\, and composition using the tools made available to us by t he in-depth exploration of traditional Afro-Cuban/Afro-Latin music. The Ru tgers Afro-Cuban Percussion Ensemble seeks to build connections between th e study of classical percussion\, the study of improvised and semi-improvi sed percussion music\, and the general topic of groove.
\nJavier Dia z\, director.
\nJavier Diaz is a percussionist with the American Sym phony Orchestra and with several chamber music groups and Latin music grou ps in the New York Area. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmoni c\, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra\, New Jersey Symphony\, Orchestra of St. Luke&rsquo\;s\, New York Perspectives Ensemble\, Zankel Hall New Music Band\, Hilliard Ensemble\, Broadway's productions of Man of La Mancha\, T horoughly Modern Millie\, Brooklyn\, Phil Collins&rsquo\;s Tarzan\, Guys a nd Dolls\, The Wiz\, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown\, Rocky\, I n The Heights and The Lion King\, Gloria Estefan&rsquo\;s On Your Feet\, t he 2017 Tony Award-winning revival of Once on This Island\, and the acclai med Ain&rsquo\;t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. His stu dio/film soundtrack credits include Lin-Manuel Miranda&rsquo\;s In The Hei ghts\, Steven Spielberg&rsquo\;s West Side Story\, collaborations with jaz z greats David Sanborn and Marcus Miller\, ECM's Tituli by Stephen Hartke with the Hilliard Ensemble\, Barbershop 3\, several HBO films and many TV and radio commercials.
\nAs an Afro-Cuban percussion specialist\, Di az has appeared with: Miami Sound Machine\, David Sanborn\, Marcus Miller\ , Sean Kingston\, Diana Ross\, Gladys Knight\, Shaka Kan\, Patty LaBelle\, Lazaro Galarraga's Afro-Cuban All Stars\, percussionists Angel Luis Figue roa\, Candido Camero\, David Yazbek\, Romá\;n Diaz and Pedro Martine z\, The PanamericanJazz Band\, The Ethnix\, Anette Aguilar&rsquo\;s Latin Jazz Group\, Marta Topferova\, Edmar Castañ\;eda\, Tribal Sage and t he New York World Music Institute. In addition\, Mr. Diaz&rsquo\;s has rec ently released an album with world music group Kalunga.
\nAn active educator\, Diaz has taught concert percussion at El Sistema de Orquestas J uveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela\, University of Connecticut and at his private studio in New York City. He has also taught Afro-Cuban percussion seminars\, classes and clinics at the Peabody Institute\, University of So uthern California\, Percussion Artists Workshops Los Angeles/New York\, Lo s Angeles School District\, The Juilliard School\, the Boston Conservatory and Mannes School of Music in New York City. Diaz is currently on the per cussion faculties at Rutgers University\, the Juilliard School and New Yor k University. His book on Afro-Cuban percussion\, The Afro-Cuban Percussio n Handbook\, has become a classic of the percussion literature.
\nMr
. Diaz has composed music for the Aspen Music Festival\, New York Universi
ty and University of Southern California. His concert music is currently a
vailable through BachovichMusic.
This program was made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural &\; Heritage Commi ssion\, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission. \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;
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