Jose Aponte, current conductor.
This ensemble ventures into the musical fusion between the Latin American rhythmic expressions and the American Jazz compositional/improvisational forms. The members of the ensemble are students from the University of North Texas Jazz Studies program. The students perform multiple concerts every fall and spring semesters and have featured recognized guest artists such as Michael Spiro and others. The group has just released their first CD production entitled “En Clave” which is available for purchase at UNT’s Jazz Studies Division office. The UNT Latin Jazz Ensemble has also performed at renowned cultural and music festivals here in Texas such as the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, The Alma y Fuego Latino Festival, Denton’s Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Dallas International Festival. The group is led and directed by UNT percussion/Jazz studies faculty member José M. Aponte.