Dani Cortaza - Argentinian Jazz Series
Dani Cortaza returns to Blues Alley with his quartet for the Argentinian Jazz Series, presenting “Aires del Sur: The Sounds of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.” The concert combines jazz with South American musical traditions through original compositions and distinctive jazz arrangements of classic standards.
The ensemble is led by guitarist, composer, arranger, and educator Dani Cortaza, whose work spans Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz, and South American folklore. Cortaza has performed internationally in Japan, Europe, South America, and the United States, and has been based in Washington, DC, since a 2002 Kennedy Center performance. His career includes more than 360 recordings, two Maryland State Arts Council Artistic Excellence Awards, a Wammie nomination for his album *Expressions*, and a 2012 FONDEC grant supporting his album *Together/Oñondivé*. In 2023, he received a Grammy certificate for his recording-engineering work on a Carlos Vives album.
When: Friday, September 25, 2026
Showtime: 7:00 PM
Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Tickets: $40, plus a $7 fee
Lineup: Dani Cortaza on guitar, Abraham Olivo on piano, Athus Fernando de Lima on bass, and Lucas Ashby on drums
Guest artists: Memo Pelayo on flute and Cecilia Esquivel on vocals
Music: Original compositions and jazz arrangements of classic standards influenced by the musical traditions of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
Background: Cortaza founded and directs two ensembles devoted to Latin jazz and Brazilian music and has performed at Blues Alley, the Smithsonian Jazz Café, the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, GALA Theatre, and other venues. His album *Together/Oñondivé* features Paraguayan and South American folk music enriched with jazz elements and was recorded at his InTune Recording studio in Adelphi, Maryland.
Presented by: Co-presented with the Embassy of Argentina
Doors: Doors open at 6:00 PM for the 7:00 PM performance.
Minimum: A $15 food-and-beverage minimum per person applies and is not included in the ticket price.
Seating: Seating is first come at the door.
Photography and recording: Photography and recording of any kind are not permitted during the performance.
Venue policy: Guests are asked to keep conversation to a minimum during the performance. Tickets are final sale, nonrefundable, and nontransferable.