The Guadalajara Reporter

Jazz, big band sound overwhelms Auditorio

A surprisingly small audience at the Auditorio de la Ribera gathered for the concert of the Big Band Jazz GDL on December 15. It is difficult to know whether the low turn-out was due to the early (noon) start, it being a Sunday, or to the show being in competition with the many other events taking place at Lakeside over the festive season.

The Big Band was born as an experimental workshop in 2009, when University of Guadalajara musician and teacher Juan José Valdivia invited students from all disciplines across the institution to join him. For his initial musical selection he chose a small collection of musical works from the wonderful era of the big bands of yesteryear.

With a vastly increased repertoire, the Big Band has performed in multiple venues since 2011: the main square of El Salto, the Casa de la Cultura in Chapala and the University of Guadalajara Music School, as well as Guadalajara’s San Jacinto Park, Instiuto Cabañas, Plaza de la Liberacion and Museo de las Artes, amongst many others.

Since its inception the group has gone from strength to strength and now there are 18 members representing both alumni and current undergraduates.

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