Celebrating culture, diversity through Jazz
The University Center Rotunda was filled with smooth atmospheric jazz Monday, as the Latin Band “PanaMO” played for students. The sound of a trumpet, the rhythmic beats of the conga and steady piano gave the taste of the diverse music genre of Latin Jazz.
The band, PanaMO, features a trumpet player, a keyboard player and a conga player. They sang songs that they composed, ending off the night with the popular song, "Tequila."
OB Succari, a conga player, said PanaMO plays Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, Panamanian American beats mixed with jazz.
Originally from Panama, Succari has been making music since he was a kid. His goal in the band is to gain popularity in acoustic music and hand drumming, which is a genre of music Succari said is dying.
“[Panama] is a crossroad," Succari said. "(It) Helped develop a lot of different genres of playing.”
Many people came for the event, curious about Latin Jazz and music. One such student was Lauren Wolfe, a sophomore here at CMU.
“I really love music, specifically Latin music," Wolfe said.
Vicente Vargas, the student host of the concert, said he has been planning this event since the summer, hoping to introduce cultures that are not normally discussed in Latin culture. He said that many of the defining features of Latin jazz are celebrating culture and diversity.
Vargas said that Latin America is often generalized and when discussing Latin heritage, many cultures within the community are often overlooked.
“Jazz is a form of cultural differences,” he said. “Music can transcend boundaries.”
