2022 UNT Jazz Education Network (JEN) Program

THE LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
JOSÉ M.
APONTE,
Director
LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Latin Jazz Lab ventures into the musical realm
between rich legacies of Latin American rhythms and
the tradition of Jazz improvisational forms. Among
the many Afro Latin, rhythmical expressions in the
Americas are the Afro Cuban and the Brazilian that
had significant impact in the origins and development
of Jazz in the United States.
This group offers students an experimental platform for
firsthand creative musical experiences allowing them a
clear perspective on Latin American musical traditions
that continue to influence how Jazz is composed,
practiced and perceived. Performances share the stage
with guest such as Michael Spiro, Ignacio Berroa, Luis
Conte, Manuel Valera, Duduka da Fonseca, and Danílo
Pérez. The group has released four CDs, “En Clave”
(2006), “Dancing Small” (2010), “Late Night Mambo”
(2012), and “Little d Town” (2016).
The ensemble is the recipient of Downbeat Magazine’s
36th Annual Student Music Awards, Best Latin Group,
(2013), the Jazz Education Network Conference,
Outstanding Performance (2014) and Downbeat
Magazine’s 39th Annual Student Music Awards, Latin
Group Outstanding College Performance (2016).
The UNT Latin Jazz Lab has been invited to perform at
art venues and festivals such as Denton Arts and Jazz
Festival, Alma y Fuego Latino Festival, Dallas Latino
Cultural Center, Denton Hispanic Heritage Festival,
Dallas International Festival and the 5th Annual Jazz
Education Network Conference.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
José is principal lecturer in the Division of Jazz
Studies and the College of Music percussion area,
where he teaches drum set and Latin percussion.
In addition to his private lesson studio work, José
is the director of UNT’s Afro-Cuban Ensemble,
Brazilian Ensemble, and Latin Jazz Lab Band.
He is native to Carolina, Puerto Rico, earned the
Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatorio
de Musica de Puerto Rico, Artist Diploma from
Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles,
California and the Master of Music degree
from the University of North Texas Jazz Studies
Program. José has performed with such artists as
Giovanni Hidalgo, Emil Richards, Carlos Guedes,
Poncho Sanchez, Batacumbele, Gino Vanelli,
Brian Bromberg, Lyle Mays, Andy Narell, David
Rudder, Relator, Fred Hamilton, Dan Haerle,
Tracy Thornton, Lian Teague, Airto Moreira,
Michael Spiro, Manuel Valera and, Nestor Torres.
As an artist and clinician, José has performed
nationally and internationally at Bumbershoot
Fest in Seattle, WA; The Crescent Jazz Festival in
Utah; The San Juan Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico;
The Festival de Jazz in Lima, Perú; The Costa Rica
International Jazz Festival in San Jose, Costa Rica,
Festival Internacional de percusión Tamborimba
in Cali, Colombia, The Jazz Melbourne Festival in
Melbourne, Australia, and the Taipei International
Percussion Summer Camp in Taiwan China.
Aponte is an active member of the Dallas/Fort
Worth musical scene as a freelance performer
10 Jazz Education Network Conference