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Cuba may still be taboo for most Americans, but 16 Whitworth College students received permission recently to visit the island and experience Latin jazz firsthand. The school's Jazz Ensemble left from Vancouver, British Columbia, on a plane for Havana. Although several colleges and universities have sent students to the once-forbidden country, the Whitworth group is the first set of college jazz musicians to go. "A lot of us were surprised," said Katherine Goyette, a junior who plays trumpet for the ensemble. "We couldn't believe that we're actually headed for Cuba." Recent legislation has eased some of the embargo's restrictions, allowing cultural exchanges between Americans and Cubans. Whitworth, an institution known for its global outreach, wanted to take advantage of that, said Dan Keberle, a music professor and director of the jazz ensemble. "This is a great opportunity to visit a part of the world that's not seen too often," said Keberle, who accompanied the group." Not just anyone can go there. Havana is a place that Americans know so little about."The award-winning ensemble, after all, has traveled almost everywhere else in recent years - Rome, Munich, Australia." Cuba would be something totally different both culturally and socially," Keberle said. Plus, the country has a rich history in jazz, he said. Latin jazz was born when the legendary Dizzy Gillespie hired Cuban percussionist Chano Pozo to play in his band during the 1940s, Keberle said. Gillespie learned a variety of Cuban dance music styles and fused them with jazz. This genre of jazz is "very high energy," Keberle said. It's spontaneous, pulsating and heightened by the Latin clave, a syncopated rhythmic beat. About half of the ensemble are freshmen. Many also are either jazz or music education majors. The students each paid $1,600 for airfare and hotel accommodations. During their nine-day stay, they'll perform at a Havana jazz club and at the University of Havana. They also will attend workshops and collaborate with local musicians, who will perform with them on stage. Although some of the students speak Spanish, the group will have an interpreter. "It's going to be really exciting to hear Latin music in Latin America," said Goyette, 19. The jazz ensemble learned about performance opportunities in Cuba through an organization called Canada-Cuba Sports and Cultural Festival. The group helps American and Canadian clubs and teams organize trips to the island, located just 90 miles away from Florida. Besides learning about Latin jazz, Keberle wants his students to develop friendships with their Cuban counterparts and experience the country's culture. "This will be a good experience because (Americans) have been isolated from Cuba for so long," Keberle said. (Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company) Return to the Programs in Cuba |
