The Great Performance Series of Hope College will feature the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble (CALJE) on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.

The 10-piece CALJE is regarded as a new and innovative force on the Latin Jazz scene. With a global sound and ensemble, the band represents Afro-Cuban Jazz, as well as music from all of Latin America. 

The group incorporates traditional Cuban rhythms such as son, guaguanco, and clave negra with modern jazz harmony. Through this fusion concept, the band has explored writing new music based on Argentinian Tango, Dominican Merengue, Puerto Rican “Bomba y Plena,” Spanish Flamenco, and Jamaican Reggae.

“This band, playing before a standing-room only crowd at this international music venue, left everyone gasping and wanting more sounds after their near two hour, flawless set,” said “Jazz Chicago” of a recent performance.

CALJE was founded in 2006 by Nicaraguan pianist/composer Darwin Noguera and Mexican trumpeter/composer Victor Garcia, who primarily write the group’s music.  The two long-time musical collaborators envisioned an endeavor in Latin music that would follow in the innovative footsteps of the pioneering Cuban groups Chucho Valdes’ Irakere, Mario Bauza & His Afro-Cubans, & the Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra.

CALJE made its debut by kicking off the “Jazz en Clave” Latin Jazz Festival at the famed Hothouse, alongside international artists such as multi-Grammy winning artist Eddie Palmieri & Dafnis Prieto’s Quintet. Musicians in the band have had the opportunity to share the stage with powerhouse artists such as Tito Puente, Danilo Perez, Paquito D’Rivera, Celia Cruz, Chick Corea and many others.

Tickets are $18 for regular admission, $13 for senior citizens, and $6 for children 18 and under. Tickets are available at the ticket offices in the main lobby of the DeVos Fieldhouse (222 Fairbanks Ave.) and the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.).  Both offices are open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.

Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., on College Avenue at 12th Street.

More information about the season may be obtained online by visiting www.hope.edu/gps/.