Purdue News

October 8, 1999 Latin jazz percussionist plays tribute to Ellington WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Influential Latin jazz percussionist Ray Barretto joins forces with renowned guitarist Kenny Burrell for a celebration of the Duke Ellington centenary at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in Loeb Playhouse at Stewart Center on the Purdue University campus. Presented by Purdue Convocations as part of the Jazz Set subscription series, Barretto and Burrell will be backed by Barretto's band, New World Spirit. This salute to Ellington will feature Latin-style arrangements of many of his most famous compositions as well as Barretto's reconfiguration of Ellington's "Latin American Suite" into a new composition called "Latin American Sweets." Barretto is a seminal figure in the development of Latin Jazz, with 13 Grammy nominations, including his most recent recording "Contact!" He has been a regular at many jazz clubs, including the Bucket of Blood, Small's Paradise, Connie's, the Lido at 135th Street and Minton's, and he sat in with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Charlie Parker. In 1957 he replaced Mongo Santamaria in Tito Puente's big band. Barretto spent several years fronting a Latin dance band, but he has since returned to a more pure jazz sound. His current band, New World Spirit, was formed in 1992. With the release of "Contact!" (1998), Barretto is enjoying both critical and popular acclaim, not only in the United States and Europe, but also in his native Puerto Rico, where he was honored at the 1997 Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival in Old San Juan. Burrell, part of the 1950s jazz scene in Detroit, made his first recording there with a visiting Dizzy Gillespie in 1951. He has played with the likes of Oscar Peterson, Benny Goodman and Jimmy Smith. Burrell has played at Purdue twice previously, once with Tommy Flanagan and once as part of the Detroit All-Stars. New this year, each Jazz Set concert will have a casual, fun and informative Jazz Cafe, starting at 6:30 p.m. before the concert. "This will be a time to grab a drink and a handful of munchies and mingle with friends," explained Don Seybold, associate director of Convocations and the Lafayette area's jazz expert. "Plus you'll have the opportunity to pick up a thing or two about that concert's musicians – background, influences, things to listen for. The cafe is meant to give new listeners to jazz an opportunity to learn a little, become more comfortable, more knowledgeable, about what they'll be hearing. We'll have displays on the musicians that you can roam around and read at your leisure. There won't be a formal program of any kind." The Jazz Cafe for the Barretto/Burrell concert Oct. 29 will be in the Sagamore Room at the Purdue Memorial Union and is free to patrons coming to the 8 p.m. concert. Tickets to the concert are $25 for the public, $15 for Purdue students. Charge by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Additional information is available at the Purdue Convocations Web site at https://www.convos.purdue.edu. CONTACT: Sue Stevens, Convocations publicist, (765) 494-5045, snsteven@purdue.edu   To the Purdue News and Photos Page