Bridging the Gulf: From Philadelphia to Mexico City, musicians unite for open dialogue and cultural connection.
Third Way Cultural Alliance announces The Mexico City Experiment: Revisited
Philadelphia bassist, composer, and cultural ambassador Jamaaladeen Tacuma leads the next expedition for TWCA with a week long trip to Mexico City. There he will unite with Guitarist Todd Clouser and MXC musicians Jorge Servin, Jeronimo Gonzalez, Eli Piña, and Roberto Verástegui. The group will perform live at the historic club Jazzatlan, conduct a workshop free for local musicians at Parker Lennox, and will also hold panel discussions about the role of music in bridging cultures and exploring patronage as a stable model to support music as art. Rehearsals and recording sessions will allow musicians time and space to open dialogues and create music together, leaving time for exploration of the city and its history.
The jazz scene in Mexico City is a vibrant and dynamic part of the city's rich cultural landscape, blending local influences with international flair. It’s a thriving community that has grown significantly in recent years, attracting both local talent and global artists while offering a variety of venues and styles for enthusiasts to explore.
Historically, jazz in Mexico traces back to the late 19th century when the Mexican Eighth Cavalry Regiment band performed in New Orleans in 1884, influencing early American jazz with Mexican rhythms. This cross-border exchange continued into the 20th century, with figures like Jelly Roll Morton performing in Mexico and incorporating Latin elements into jazz. The genre took root in Mexico City by the mid-20th century, with the first Mexican jazz album released in 1954 by ¡La Orquesta de las Estrellas!. Since then, the scene has evolved, fueled by a mix of traditional Mexican musical heritage and modern experimentation.
About the musicians :
For over 40 years Jamaaladeen Tacuma has shown his care for his musical community. As a member of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time, Jamaaladeen Tacuma promoted his fellow Philadelphia musicians (G Calvin Weston and Charlie Ellerbee) who went on to become long time members of the ensemble.
Tacuma has been recognized for his artistic excellence worldwide with the "PARALLEL CULTURE" Award 2009, Marcus Garvey Foundation 50th Anniversary Award 2011, The Pew Fellowship in the Arts 2011 and the The Uptown Theater Hall of Fame Award. He has received The MacDowell Colony, Headlands Center for the Arts and Civitella Ranieri residency fellowships, in 2017 he received The Clef Club of Jazz Best Bassist Award, in 2018 he received the City of Philadelphia's Benny Golson Award, which includes a City proclamation and the Liberty Bell award - one of the highest honors from the City of Philadelphia . Jazz Journalist Association awarded Jamaaladeen The “Philadelphia Jazz Hero Award in 2021. In 2021 Jamaaladeen received the South Arts Creative Residency Grant . Since 2015 Jamaaladeen has presented the annual Outsiders Improvised & Creative Music Festival in Philadelphia and continues to tour, produce and record worldwide.
Guitarist and composer Todd Clouser is a nomadic ambassador; originally from Minneapolis, Clouser has rooted in Mexico City, fully embracing not just the local culture but also the expansive diversity of the country and the continent. Consistently advocating for musicians and collaborating across borders and styles, Clouser has set himself apart from the status quo at every turn. His vision, and his action, stand as a model for cross cultural interaction.
Last Jerónimo is a Veracruz- born musician who has had a significant influence on the rock, Son Jarocho, and jazz genres throughout Mexico. A virtuoso on bass and jarana, as well as an accomplished producer across genre, from hip hop to jazz, Jerónimo has carved out a special place for themselves in the music industry with his fascinating fusion of raw energy and sincere narrative. Most recently he appears on Run The Jewels RTJ CU4TRO, as well as Th Mexico City Experiment album released by ropeadope in 2023.
Roberto Verástegui is a Monterrey, México native and is a graduate of the University of North Texas famed jazz program, where he was a member of the One O’clock Lab Band. He has worked with the likes of Bob Belden, Bill Laswell, Ralph Alessi, Jason Thomas, Tommy Campbell, Jeff Coffin, Linda Oh and Ganavya Doraiswamy to name a few, and has won awards like the Downbeat Student Award and the second place at the Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. Roberto was the artistic director and conductor of the Orquesta Nacional de Jazz de México from 2016 to 2018, and has performed in Mexico, USA, England, Portugal, Spain, Iran, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and China.
Jorge Servin, an explosive and incentive drummer with 20 years of experience spanning jazz, rock, and electronic genres, his versatility and depth of experience make him a sought-after musician. He currently plays with A Love Electric and leads his own project called D1ST0RT0, which explores the fusion of electronic and analog acoustic music. Other projects he has been involved with include Federico Sánchez Trio, Sabroso, and Magnet Animals, which showcase his diverse musical background and collaborative spirit.
About Third Way Cultural Alliance
Third Way Cultural Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the furtherance of the album format, in multiple genres of contemporary music. By offering comprehensive funding for new album-length projects, Third Way thrives on the axis between a cultural institution and an ethically-run, creatively-nurturing independent record label. Further, Third Way’s thoughtfully selected projects promise to explore issues of social justice and empowerment for disenfranchised communities.
Rooted in the endowment-funded model that has long fostered the preservation of fine arts and folk culture, Third Way will take that framework to contemporary music serving socially engaged audiences. At last, artists will be able to respond to our current sociopolitical moment with ambitious long-form works — away from the exploitation that overwhelms the current music industry. Through Third Way, musicians will also have access to a vast network of veteran artists, cultural and social organizations, and educational initiatives that share their convictions. “It’s about patronage for art, as opposed to getting caught up in the balance sheet and the profit-and-loss system,” says Ropeadope CEO Louis Marks, a Third Way co-founder and board member alongside musician and educator Joe Pignato and Ropeadope President Fabian Brown.
Donors and organizations can arrange a direct meeting with Third Way Co-Founder Louis Marks by emailing Louis@twca.xyz