Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours

Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Papo Vázquez brings his fiery blend of jazz, Latin, and Afro–Puerto Rican traditions to the bandstand for a night of rhythm, soul, and swing. A GRAMMY-nominated NEA Master Artist and pioneer of “bomba jazz,” Vázquez has spent more than four decades shaping the sound of Latin jazz alongside icons including the Fania All-Stars, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, and Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra. Vázquez fuses driving bomba and plena grooves with rich horn writing, modern harmony, and improvisation. Expect propulsive rhythms, soaring solos, and an atmosphere that feels at once folkloric and forward-looking—an electrifying celebration of Afro–Puerto Rican jazz from one of its defining voices.