“The most important Latin jazz artist in New York City today, the heir to the legacy of Tito Puente.” New York Latin Culture 

Bassist and composer Carlos Henriquez is one of the first truly bilingual musicians, a virtuoso in both jazz and Afro-Latin traditions. Henriquez has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since he was only 19 years old. The Bronx native has been a phenomenon since high school, back when he was playing with local heroes like Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz, and tonight’s program is the world premiere of his latest project, The South Bronx Story.

Through ten original new pieces, Henriquez will present a musical retrospective of the South Bronx’s social history, recalling significant people and events that created the historic neighborhood’s diverse culture. Alongside trumpeters Terell Stafford and Michael Rodriguez, trombonist Marshall Gilkes, saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, conga player Marcos Torres, flutist Jeremy Bosch, pianist Robert Rodriguez, and drummer Obed Calvaire, Henriquez will debut songs such as “Black Benji,” “Hydrants Love All,” “Mama Lorraine,” and “Hip Hop con Clave”—a wide-ranging suite of music that solidifies Henriquez’ reputation as one of New York’s most thoughtful and versatile musicians. This exclusive performance will be a lively, insightful, and technically stunning marriage of established traditions and cutting-edge possibilities in Latin jazz.