CJRO Latin Jazz Ensemble to perform in Boulder and Lakewood

By Adair Teuton

As part of its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO) Latin Jazz Ensemble is preparing to take audiences on a vibrant musical journey to Brazil. Led by CJRO artistic director Drew Zaremba, the ensemble will showcase Brazilian jazz through a series of performances across Colorado, featuring some of the region’s most talented Latin musicians.

A commitment to authenticity

For the CJRO, this is about honoring the traditions and sounds of Brazilian jazz with authenticity and respect. As CJRO founder and executive director Art Bouton explained, “Our goal is to honor this music and not approach it in a superficial way. But that’s always a balancing act when people hear music which is completely unfamiliar to them.”

Bouton, who has been with the CJRO since its inception, emphasized that while the music might be new to many listeners, the experience will be universally enthralling.

“The concerts coming up are just captivating in their beauty,” he said. “So it’s not that the audience needs to know anything. They’ll just be struck by how beautiful it all is.”

The CJRO Latin Jazz Ensemble has been performing together for three to four years and, over time, has incorporated more South American musicians to deepen the authenticity of their sound.

“The pianist is from Venezuela, our bassist is from Brazil, the percussionist is from Mexico, and Gabriel [Santiago, guitarist] is from Brazil,” Bouton said. “But the coolest thing about it is, our drummer is from Wisconsin. His name is Nixon, but he went to Brazil and studied music for years, to the point now where he runs the Colorado Samba School.”

A diverse lineup of shows

The ensemble's upcoming performances offer a diverse array of styles, including music by famed Brazilian artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendez, who died Sept. 6 in Los Angeles.

“Jobim was like the Elvis Presley of Brazil—he was their Beethoven or Bach,” Bouton noted. “We’re playing his music, as well as music from other Brazilian composers.”

The CJRO Latin Jazz Ensemble will perform two times in late September. The Colorado Brazil Fest comes to Boulder on Sept. 19. Their final show of the month, A Journey to Brazil, will take place on Sept. 29 at the Lakewood Cultural Center.

A unifying experience for all audiences

Bouton is confident that the music will resonate with audiences, regardless of their familiarity with Brazilian jazz.

“The audience doesn’t need to learn anything—they’ll just enjoy it. The music stands on its own,” he said.

Tickets for all performances range from $23 to $35 and are available at colorado jazz.org.