Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its history as one of the crown jewels of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The orchestra’s 2026 concerts add to that tradition.

Today's Concert

Jazz With a Cuban Flavor

Since the turn of the 20th century, Cuban musical sensibilities have enriched American music with vibrant rhythms and evocative textures. In the 1940s, Cuban musicians such as Mario Bauzá, Francisco “Machito” Grillo, and Luciano “Chano” Pozo electrified jazz by fusing it with Afro-Cuban musical elements and simultaneously wove jazz improvisation into Cuban popular music. These artists and others pioneered a groundbreaking fresh style dubbed Afro-Cuban jazz. The fusion transformed jazz in the United States as it bridged cultures from across the African diaspora of the Americas. The concert honors the enduring legacy of “Cuban Tinge” with dynamic selections including Machito’s “Mango Mangue,” written by Francisco Fellove Valdés for Machito to perform with Celia Cruz, Bauzá’s “Cubauza,” and the iconic “Manteca” by Chano Pozo, Gil Fuller, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Note: The full orchestra will perform this concert.

Program content is subject to change.

Additional 2025–2026 Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Concerts

• November 8, 2025 - CANCELED
• December 13, 2025 (free concert, registration required via EventBrite)
• April 17, 2026
• June 5, 2026

General Information

• Registration for this performance will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, February 27, 2026.
• Note: The 2025–2026 season does not include series pricing.
• Refer to our health and safety information for in-person programs.