The City of Swing Welcomes the Story of Salsa Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City Exhibition on View at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri July 24-October 17, 2004

The Raices Latin Music Collection is proud to announce its touring exhibition, Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City has opened at the American Jazz Museum inKansas City Missouri where it will remain on view through October 17, 2004. The American Jazz Museum is located in the historic 18th and Vine district at 1616 East 18th Street. Kansas City is considered by many to be the mother of Swing and the nurturer of Bebop. For museum hours and admission information, please call (816) 474-8463.

New York, New York (PRWEB) August 1, 2004 -- Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City is a multi-media exhibition of highlights from the Raices Collection. The exhibit explores the impact of Afro-Caribbean Latin musical culture in the United States, and the fusion of styles that became the New York brand of Salsa. The exhibit pays homage to the recognized pioneers and the overlooked individuals whose vibrant music has left an indelible imprint on American culture. Developed by the Raices Latin Music Collection, and curated by musician and folklorist Louis Bauzó and designed by Oliver Hirsch, the exhibit includes special tributes to Machito, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Miguelito Valdes, and others, Raices celebrates New York City's Latin music legacy.

Regarding the exhibit's opening in Kansas City, Raices Co-founder, Ramon Rodriguez had this to say, "The presence of the Raices exhibit at the American Jazz Museum is an exciting opportunity for us to highlight the Latino contribution to Jazz and futhers our efforts to ensure that Latin music takes its rightful place in the pantheon of America's musical heritage."

The mission of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City is to celebrate and exhibit the experience of jazz as an original American art form through research, exhibition, education, and performance. The Museum features rare artifacts and interactive displays on several jazz musicians and performers. Legends such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are featured prominently within the museum's permanent exhibit. Fans of Charlie Parker, a Kansas City native, can enjoy viewing a saxophone once used by Parker, as well as the Charlie Parker Memorial Plaza located just to the west of the museum. Live jazz music can be heard four nights a week at the Blue Room, designed to resemble a jazz club from the 1930's.

The mission of the Raices Latin Music Collection is to: "research, preserve, and promote the rich musical legacy of popular and folkloric Afro-Caribbean musical forms through exhibitions, conservation and primary materials and documents, establishment of an archival/research center, educational activities, performance and the presentation of this music through artist workshops and lecture/demonstrations. Raices documents the evolution of Latin music often referred to as "Salsa," from its origins in the folkloric traditions of the racially diverse Caribbean people to the popular music heard in New York City. Concentrating on the musical contributions of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic -- Raices includes the indigenous, European and African influences. Through its extensive collection and educational programs, Raices helps to preserve and present an essential part of America's musical heritage and educates its diverse publics about this rich musical tradition.

The Raices Latin Music Collection is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and an Official Project of SAVE AMERICAS TREASURES. To host the Raices exhibition, please contact Oliver Hirsch at 212/427-2244 ext. 578, ohirsch@theharbor.org
For more information about Raices and the Harbor Conservatory you may visit, www.harborconservatory.org

Raices is a primary program of the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, founded in l970, and in turn a division of Boys & Girls Harbor, founded in l937 by Anthony Duke. Boys & Girls Harbor, one of New York City's premier youth development agencies serves children and their families through education, cultural awareness and social services.

The exhibition, Raices: The Roots of Latin Music in New York City was developed with support from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, Goya Foods, Barcardi Family Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, and the Reed Founation.

The Raices Latin Music Collection is made possible with support from: The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, National Endowment for the Arts, State Senator Olga Mendez, City Councilman Philip Reed, Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, New York Department of Youth and Community Development, New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Ford Foundation, American Express Company, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, New York Community Trust , The Reed Foundation and the friends and family of Bill Gordon.

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