by Ignacio Lopez | Feb 28, 2025
The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective blends the heart of Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the sophistication of modern jazz, creating a soundscape that is as familiar as it is fresh in the world music genre. José Guzmán Borrero, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is a multi-genre guitarist who has performed with jazz ensembles, chamber groups, and rock bands. He leads the Latin jazz group, The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective, which has released several albums on Spotify.
Join us for a bombajazz filled night in an intimate setting with The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective & Colectivo Sayba at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance.
El Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective combina el corazón de los ritmos afrocaribeños con la sofisticación del jazz moderno, creando un paisaje sonoro tan familiar como fresco en el género musical mundial. José Guzmán Borrero, originario de Ponce, Puerto Rico, es un guitarrista multigénero que ha actuado con conjuntos de jazz, grupos de cámara y bandas de rock. Lidera el grupo de jazz latino, The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective, que ha lanzado varios álbumes en Spotify.
Únase a nosotros para una noche llena de bombajazz en un ambiente íntimo con El Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective y Colectivo Sayba en las instalaciones de Puerto Rican Arts Alliance.
by Ignacio Lopez | Feb 3, 2025
Rhythms of Latin Jazz: Exploring Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration with Jonathan Suazo
RICANO is an original Afro-Caribbean experience that presents themes of exploration, integration, community, education and self-acceptance, available to audiences through live shows, immersive classes and recorded assets. The word RICANO was conceived by J. Suazo and is a play/fusion of the words “Puertorriqueño” and “Dominicano,” symbolizing self-discovery and connections to Puertorican and Dominican roots.
RICANO will showcase the rhythms of Latin Jazz to bring that past, present, and future of this cultural heritage to a wide array of audiences.
RICANO es una experiencia afrocaribeña original que presenta temas de exploración, integración, comunidad, educación y autoaceptación, disponibles para el público a través de espectáculos en vivo, clases inmersivas y material grabado. La palabra RICANO fue concebida por J. Suazo y es un juego/fusión de las palabras “Puertorriqueño” y “Dominicano”, que simbolizan el autodescubrimiento y las conexiones con las raíces puertorriqueñas y dominicanas.
RICANO exhibirá los ritmos del jazz latino para acercarnos a ese pasado, presente y futuro de este patrimonio cultural.
by afoss | Aug 9, 2022
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) and Crossing Borders Music for the one-day outdoor exhibition We Walk: A Celebration of Black Community.
This community exhibition highlights the excellence and contributions of Black America in the local community and beyond. Featuring exhibits on Black artists, history, food, and more!
Plus, a LIVE Crossing Borders Music concert of music by Black composers at 2PM with guest artist Kailie Holliday, featuring music commissioned for this program by The Honourable Elizabeth A Baker, Jessica T Carter, and Jordyn Davis in honor of Juneteenth and the ongoing African-American journey from slavery to justice.
Free and open to the public! Stroll through the exhibition with us!
Taking place at Dawes Park east of Sheridan Rd between Lake Street and Greenwood St (around 1413 Sheridan Rd), Evanston, IL
“We Walk: A Celebration of Black Community” is a program created in 2020 by the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) who invited Crossing Borders Music’s participation in this ongoing, uplifting project.
This project is partially supported by a grant from the Evanston Arts Council, an agency supported by the City of Evanston, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is partially supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and the Paul M Angell Family Foundation. Crossing Borders Music acknowledges the support of the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Pictured: At 2021’s “We Walk” in Dawes Park, Dr. Cranston Knight speaks with passers-by at an exhibit on Black internationalism. Photo credit Carlos Bossard
by afoss | Jun 14, 2022
“From Slavery to Justice: the Ongoing Journey” uses music to tell stories of African-American liberation. To celebrate Juneteenth, a historic date that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people, Crossing Borders Music commissioned new music of The Honourable Elizabeth A. Baker, Jordyn Davis, and Jessica T. Carter.
Be one of the first people to hear their amazing works! The program will also include “Lead Me Home” by Brittany J. Green based on the hymn “Precious Lord” famously sung by Mahalia Jackson, and the 2021 revised version of String Quartet No. 1 by AJ Isaacson-Zvidzwa. The program will be the subject of a short documentary by Chicago filmmaker Rubye Lane, and is the brainchild of Crossing Borders Music board member and Strategic Planning Committee Chair Marjorie Adam Clark, who is also co-chair of the Forest Park Juneteenth Committee and Illinois Juneteenth Committee. Juneteenth, Marjorie says, is “a holiday of racial healing.”
View the event on the library website at http://skokielibrary.info/…/the-ongoing-journey-from…
This program is presented by the Skokie Public Library. The program is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This program is made possible in part by the Paul M Angell Family Foundation.
Crossing Borders Music acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
by afoss | Jun 14, 2022
Be one of the first people to ever hear the healing breaths and sounds of “this is a notice” by the incredible artist The Honourable Elizabeth A Baker, commissioned by Crossing Borders Music in celebration of Juneteenth! Plus, Crossing Borders Music will be joined by young artist and special guest cellist Kailie Holliday! And, we’ve chosen lots of our old favorite tunes, just for you! See you in Uptown!
This Night Out in the Parks/Make Music Chicago program is FREE and open to EVERYONE!
This program is a part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks.
Celebrating 10 years, Night Out in the Parks activates parks across the city with robust cultural events – bringing neighbors together to laugh, dance, sing, and engage.
This program made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, by the Paul M Angell Family Foundation, and by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Crossing Borders Music acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.