2017 was a BIG year for the KC Latin Jazz All-Stars! Our project has touched an estimated 20,000+ persons with 83 LIVE, AUTHENTIC Salsa and Latin Jazz events! We ushered 2017 in at the Vox Theater, trekked to Charlotte Street for Samba in the Snow in February, welcomed the one and only Jackie Zamora to the Blue Room for Women in Salsa & Latin Jazz in March, played and enjoyed the flavors of Comida KC at Union Station in April. In May we brought our montuno to The Gem for the Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival. June took us to Topeka for the Great Overland Station Havana Night Gala. In July we celebrated Pablo’s birthday by bringing salsa and Calle Vida to the people on West 39th Street at Prospero’s Bookstore… and also  The Big Picnic on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins. We spent a few hot summer nights at The City Market for Wednesday Farmer’s Market music series. The fall months took us to Omaha and the Westport Art Fair in September, and back to Prospero’s in October for the moving, one night only event honoring Chilean Folk Artist Violeta Parra: “100 years of Violeta Parra: Cantos de amor y resistencia.” In November we visited our friends Mattie Rhodes, Central Avenue Betterment Association in KCK for Dias de los Muertos, and was able to bring Jackie Zamora back for Latina’s in STEM with the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers! On December 28th we wrap up an amazing year at the Blue Room!

In between all these historic places and community events the KC Latin Jazz All-Stars have played for some of you in your living rooms, on your patios, at your weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and celebrated the life a young musician who died too soon. We spent some time in the recording studio, visited a couple college campuses, and worked with kiddos at the annual Show & Shed and Boys & Girls Club!

2017 was an incredible year…however…we have more planned in 2018–which marks the  FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY of the KC Latin Jazz All-Stars project!

With love and gratitude,

Pablo Sanhueza & KC Latin Jazz All-Stars