Caras Lindas

Nuestra Maestra: Maria Rodriguez

Episode Summary

This week, we discus Jean Marie Butler, 72, a classical and jazz piano teacher who performed as Maria Rodriguez with Latin groups in Washington, DC with Pepe Gonzalez . Pepe started his music career playing the electric bass in his late teens, when he formed one of the first integrated bands (between African-Americans and Hispanics) in the Washington, DC area. The band, ZAPATA, opened for many great bands such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, Weather Report, Rashan Roland Kirk, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Isley Brothers. In celebration of Women's History Month we honor Maria Rodriguez. She was a arranger, accompanist and composer, working with groups that included La Jazz and Maria Rodriguez Y Sus Magnificos. Maria Rodriguez performed for the Charlin Jazz Society and at D.C. Jazz Festivals, Blues Alley, a Smithsonian conference on Afro-Latin music and other places. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.