Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band members and guests were treated to a special and intimate performance by the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West | Latin Band Group, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at Utterback Middle School Auditorium, Tucson. This was a free and open-to-the-public performance and it also turned into a clinic for the band members focusing on Latin rhythms/clave and playing percussion instruments like the congas, bongos, guiro, and timbales. Below will be a brief video clip (as soon as I can figure out why it’s not uploading!!!) mixing three pieces performed by the band with an introduction by Brice Winston, director of the TJI Ellington Band. You can see the clip on here on Facebook.
TJI band members were invited on stage to be mentored by the performers and some photos are provided below to give you an idea of the personal connection each student experienced. Click on each image for the full view.
