Featuring Jack Duncan
The first time I heard the Irakere album ‘Misa Negra’ (Black Mass) it absolutely blew my mind. The combination of Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz harmonies lit a fire within me that continues to burn to this day. Not even in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that 15 years later Chucho Valdés, the leader of Irakere, would invite me to perform as a featured artists at the Havana Jazz Plaza. — Jack Duncan
Like a spiced rum and salsa on the beach, and influenced by the cultural and musical flavours of Havana —Jack Duncan invites you in to an island vibe. He is recognized internationally for his work as a pioneer in the study and promotion of Afro-Cuban and African music. Jack, alongside his Afro-Cuban Jazz group Conga Cartel, will create a vibrant landscape of sound and emotion through his Conga drums.
Jack has appeared on numerous soundtracks, and most notably the Grammy and Oscar Award winning animated movie Ratatouille (Disney/Pixar).
Piva Presents: Jazz at the Anvil
A new and exciting jazz series is coming to New Westminster! Starting September 2022, and running through to March 2023, Piva Presents: Jazz at the Anvil is bringing together some of the very best musical talent Vancouver has to offer. The goal of these shows is to not only elevate the appreciation of music and tell the story of jazz, but also to engage, strengthen, and amplify arts in the community.
With new takes and nods to classic artists, like Dave Brubeck and Ella Fitzgerald, and arrangements inspired by warm nights in New Orleans and Havana, these shows will move you in new ways and welcome you in to the rich world of jazz.
The proceeds from each show will be given to the music department at New West Secondary School, to enrich the lives of the students and provide new opportunities for them to explore the music in their heart.
