Dani Cortaza Presents "The Great Pan-American Songbook"

Dani Cortaza presents “The Great Pan-American Songbook,” a guitar-centered program exploring Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz, and South American folklore. Cortaza performs on both nylon-string and electric jazz guitar, drawing on nearly four decades as a performer, composer, arranger, educator, and recording professional.

Cortaza has performed internationally in Japan, Europe, South America, and the United States. He has lived in Washington, DC, since a 2002 Kennedy Center concert and has led ensembles devoted to Latin jazz and Brazilian music. His honors include two Maryland State Arts Council Artistic Excellence Awards, a Wammie nomination for his album *Expressions*, and a 2023 Grammy certificate for recording-engineering work on Carlos Vives’s *Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así*. He has contributed to more than 360 recordings and received a 2012 FONDEC grant for *Together/Oñondivé*, an album combining Paraguayan and South American folk music with jazz.

When: Wednesday, November 25, 2026

Showtimes: The listing specifies a 7:00 PM performance. Event schedule information also lists a 9:30 PM show.

Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007

Tickets: $35, plus a $7 fee

Food and beverage minimum: Each guest must purchase at least $15 in food or beverages; this minimum is not included in the ticket price.

Seating: Seating is first come at the door. For the evening performances, doors open at 6:00 PM and 8:45 PM, respectively.

Artist: Dani Cortaza

Musical focus: Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz, South American folklore, and Latin American folk music arranged with jazz influences

Policies: Tickets are final sale, nonrefundable, and nontransferable. Photography and recording are prohibited during the performance, and guests are asked to keep conversation to a minimum.