MARK RUFFIN: NOW, A JAZZ MOMENT

"Tema La Perfecta" up and under

WITH HIS SEMINAL BAND, LA PERFECTA, NEA JAZZ MASTER EDDIE PALMIERI REDEFINED WHAT A LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA LOOKED LIKE. EDDIE PALMIERI.

PALMIERI: We started with seven and then we added another trombone. We were the first band, we set the whole new precedent of an orchestra having two trombones upfront.

RUFFIN: ANCHORING THE BAND WAS THE GREAT TROMBONIST, BARRY RODGERS.

PALMIERI: Barry was so essential to La Perfecta. I always said later on after we met and worked together that if God is perfection, then Barry was near perfection. Everything he did, he was truly a genius. And because of him, he was a complete stimulant to get me into Latin Jazz.

"Tema La Perfecta" up and hot

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH BANDLEADER AND PIANIST EDDIE PALMIERI WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

Excerpt of "Tema La Perfecta" composed and performed by Eddie Palmieri, from his album, Eddie Palmieri and His Conjunto, La Perfecta, used courtesy of FANIA music and by permission of The Palmieri Organization (BMI).