Music of the Americas: Latin America in Mexico

Tuesday, December 7, 10 a.m.

Sela Lovera was born in Caracas and, since 2017, lives in Playa del Carmen, in the Yucatán, where she is a member of Morajazz Project. She started her career in Venezuela leading her own band Sela Music Show and was a participant in the reality show Estrellas de la música, broadcast on Venevisión in 2002. She released two albums and toured internationally with Sela y 7palos. Lovera has shared the stage with leading artists, including the late Aldemaro Romero. She has also worked in commercials and music theater.

Wednesday, December 8, 10 a.m.

Venezuelan mandolin player, composer, and producer Jorge Torres is one of his country's foremost specialists in new traditional music. He has performed in Europe and Latin America and is the co-founder of the youth arts organization Mi Juguete es Canción. Torres has released two albums, Estado neutral and En la cuerda floja. He studied at the Universidad Experimental de las Artes in Caracas, where he currently lives.

Thursday, December 9, 10 a.m.

Mexican percussionist Uzzo Ismael is a member of Kalavera Orquesta, established in Mexico City during the pandemic. Ismael has developed techniques that allow him to play several traditional salsa instruments at the same time, as we can see in the video he sent us from home, in which he plays clave and cowbell with special pedals. 

Friday, December 10, 10 a.m.

Salvadoran guitarist and composer Juanjo Gómez is currently based in Mexico City, where he plays jazz and works as a session musician. He is a clinician for Fender and is currently working on the debut album of his project XUC, which combines jazz and funk. Gómez is also the director of Pitayo Music, a musical collective in Mexico City. 

He sent us a solo version of his composition "Prince."

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation.

The Fall 2021 Music program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.