Saxophonist Ivan Renta to Tour with Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra

The Jazz at the Lincoln Center's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra will be performing throughout the United States and even in Shanghai, China (in October) as part of their critically acclaimed 2004 tour. Their recent appearance at Monterey Jazz Festival, highlights what has been until now a very successful musical journey. This 17 piece orchestra, under the direction of pianist Arturo O'Farril (son of the late Legendary Composer and Bandleader Chico O'Farril and an outstanding arranger, composer and pianist himself) has brought together some of the premiere Latin Jazz musicians of our times. Not only does it include amongst its members Living Legends of Latin music such as Saxophonists Mario Rivera and Bobby Porcelli, Trombonist Reynaldo Jorge and Percussionist Milton Cardona and, but it also has many of the “Young Lions of Latin Jazz" such as Trombonist Luis Bonilla, Trumpet Player Mike Rodriguez, Bass Player Ruben Rodriguez and Saxophonist Ivan Renta, a young man who has journeyed from a small town in the South Central mountains of Puerto Rico.

Ivan Renta was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, (the island's second largest city), but raised in a town of 16,000 people, founded in the 16th Century, located north of Ponce called Coamo. The town which is world renown for it's Natural Hot Springs, has an economy that is dependant on manufacturing, agriculture and aviculture, all industries on a downturn slide in Coamo. It also has a high unemployment rate (well into double-digits) and like most of Puerto Rico, an illegal drug problem. Many of Coamo's youth are lost to drugs, using it as an escape from the town's economic woes. The town is also known for its Fiestas Patronales (Patron Feasts), the San Blas Marathon (the world's top half-marathon), its athletes (marathon runners, cyclists, baseball and basketball players) and it's musicians. Throughout it's history it has had renown musicians such as Composer and Bandleader Jose Ignacio Quinton (at the turn of the century), famous composer and singer Bobby Capo and Salsa Legends Bobby Valentin and Willie Rosario.

Ivan began playing Alto sax at age 13 in his hometown. By age 15 , Ivan was already performing with local bands in the southern part of Puerto Rico. As a teenager he studied with local saxophonist Jose “Cheguito" Encarnaci