Carlos Inzillo
Encyclopedia
Carlos Inzillo is a jazz musician, producer and historian from Argentina.
in 1944. He enrolled at the Universidád John F. Kennedy (a private, local college), earning a degree in journalism
, and later, a doctorate in social psychology
. While still in college, in 1963, he joined Radio Libertad as a programmer for emcee Jorge Ruanova's popular nighttime jazz
program, Buenos Aires, Hora Cero ("Buenos Aires at Midnight"), and contributed to a local documentary film
as music consultant. Inzillo learned solfège
and music theory
from well-known Argentine Tango
pianist Horacio Salgán
during this interim, and mastered the clarinet
. He remained on the radio in subsequent years, hosting El diccionario del jazz ("Jazz Dictionary") on Radio Municipal in 1966, Jazz sin barreras ("Jazz without Barriers") on Radio Rivadavia in 1967, Registros inéditos ("Unreleased Recordings") on Radio Municipal in 1968, Jazz a la carta on Radio Nacional in 1973, and Jazz contemporáneo on FM Radio Nacional, in 1976, as well as organizing a number of jazz festivals, beginning with "Jazz & Pop" in 1969, and contributing a jazz column on a number of local magazines and radio programs during the 1970s and 1980s.
Elections in 1983
resulted in Inzillo's appointment as communications director for the General San Martín Theatre
, the most important of its kind in Argentina. He leveraged this post for the establishment of an annual jazz festival at the adjacent San Martín Cultural Center
, Jazzología. Featuring a varied repertoire and free to the public, Jazzología premiered successfully on September 4, 1984, leading to Inzillo's creation of a smaller, outdoor version of the event, Jazz al caer la tarde ("Evening Jazz"), which he hosted at the center's southern plaza from 1985 to 2001.
Jazzología attracted both local and international vocalists and musicians over the next two decades, including Betty Carter
, Pierre Dørge
and his New Jungle Orchestra, Conrad Herwig
, Sandra Mihanovich
, Karlheinz Miklin, and Chuck Wayne
, among many others. Organized annually by Inzillo with but one interruption (in 2007, for the center's refurbishment), the festival attracted over a million spectators in all, and his promotion of jazz in Argentina earned him a distinction as Honorary Citizen of the genre's birthplace, New Orleans, in 1985.
Inzillo's many newspaper interviews for La Nación, La Prensa
and Pagina/12
included renowned artists such as Gary Burton
, Chick Corea
, Al Di Meola
, Paquito D’Rivera, B.B. King, Baden Powell, Lalo Schiffrin, Chucho Valdéz and Joe Zawinul
. Inzillo returned to radio as host of Jazzología laser, on FM Jazz, from 1991, and Raices ("Roots") on Radio Nacional, from 1999 until 2003. A prolific historian in his subject, from 1974 onwards he hosted lectures on jazz-related subjects as diverse as Free Jazz
, Alice Coltrane
, Stéphane Grappelli
, Jelly Roll Morton
, Charlie Shavers
and Sarah Vaughan
. Inzillo was bestowed a Konex Award
, the highest in the Argentine cultural realm, in 2005, and directed the Standards program for the 2008 Buenos Aires Jazz Festival
.
Life and work
Inzillo was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1944. He enrolled at the Universidád John F. Kennedy (a private, local college), earning a degree in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, and later, a doctorate in social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
. While still in college, in 1963, he joined Radio Libertad as a programmer for emcee Jorge Ruanova's popular nighttime jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
program, Buenos Aires, Hora Cero ("Buenos Aires at Midnight"), and contributed to a local documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
as music consultant. Inzillo learned solfège
Solfege
In music, solfège is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable...
and music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
from well-known Argentine Tango
Argentine Tango
Argentine tango is a musical genre of simple quadruple metre and binary musical form, and the social dance that accompanies it. Its lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments including the bandoneon. Originated at the ending of the 19th century in the suburbs of...
pianist Horacio Salgán
Horacio Salgán
Horacio Adolfo Salgán is an Afro-Argentine pianist, composer, orchestra leader, and arranger who specializes in tango music....
during this interim, and mastered the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
. He remained on the radio in subsequent years, hosting El diccionario del jazz ("Jazz Dictionary") on Radio Municipal in 1966, Jazz sin barreras ("Jazz without Barriers") on Radio Rivadavia in 1967, Registros inéditos ("Unreleased Recordings") on Radio Municipal in 1968, Jazz a la carta on Radio Nacional in 1973, and Jazz contemporáneo on FM Radio Nacional, in 1976, as well as organizing a number of jazz festivals, beginning with "Jazz & Pop" in 1969, and contributing a jazz column on a number of local magazines and radio programs during the 1970s and 1980s.
Elections in 1983
Argentine general election, 1983
The Argentine general election of 1983 was held on 30 October and marked the return of Democracy after the 1976's dictatorship self-known as National Reorganization Process...
resulted in Inzillo's appointment as communications director for the General San Martín Theatre
Teatro General San Martín
The Teatro General San Martin is an important public theater in Buenos Aires, located on Corrientes Avenue and adjacent to the cultural center of the same name...
, the most important of its kind in Argentina. He leveraged this post for the establishment of an annual jazz festival at the adjacent San Martín Cultural Center
Centro Cultural General San Martín
The General San Martín Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Buenos Aires, Argentina near the major thoroughfare Corrientes Avenue.It is run by the city government, and hosts diverse cultural and artistic events...
, Jazzología. Featuring a varied repertoire and free to the public, Jazzología premiered successfully on September 4, 1984, leading to Inzillo's creation of a smaller, outdoor version of the event, Jazz al caer la tarde ("Evening Jazz"), which he hosted at the center's southern plaza from 1985 to 2001.
Jazzología attracted both local and international vocalists and musicians over the next two decades, including Betty Carter
Betty Carter
Betty Carter was an American jazz singer renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style...
, Pierre Dørge
Pierre Dørge
Pierre Dørge is a Danish avant-garde jazz guitarist, bandleader and composer born in Copenhagen, Denmark. As leader of New Jungle Orchestra he created a unique and playful combination of traditional and modern jazz with Highlife west-African guitar music.Among his collaborators have been his...
and his New Jungle Orchestra, Conrad Herwig
Conrad Herwig
Conrad Herwig is a jazz trombonist from New York City in the United States. He has recorded 20 albums as a leader.-Biography:He began his career in Clark Terry's band in the early 1980s and has been a featured member in the Joe Henderson Sextet, Tom Harrell’s Septet and Big Band, and the Joe...
, Sandra Mihanovich
Sandra Mihanovich
Sandra Mihanovich Cahen is an Argentine singer, musician, and composer of Rock, Blues, and Tango rhythms.She was born in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the daughter of Iván Mihanovich Nazar, a polo player of Croatian descent -and heir to a shipping fortune- and Mónica Cahen...
, Karlheinz Miklin, and Chuck Wayne
Chuck Wayne
Chuck Wayne was a jazz guitarist who came to prominence in the 1940s. He is best known for his work with Woody Herman's First Herd, and for being the first guitarist in the George Shearing quintet...
, among many others. Organized annually by Inzillo with but one interruption (in 2007, for the center's refurbishment), the festival attracted over a million spectators in all, and his promotion of jazz in Argentina earned him a distinction as Honorary Citizen of the genre's birthplace, New Orleans, in 1985.
Inzillo's many newspaper interviews for La Nación, La Prensa
La Prensa (Buenos Aires)
La Prensa is an Argentine daily newspaper.Based in Buenos Aires, it was founded on 18 October 1869 by José C. Paz. La Prensa ranked among the most widely circulated dailies in Argentina in subsequent decades, earning a reputation for conservatism and support for British interests in Argentina...
and Pagina/12
Página/12
Página/12 is a newspaper based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Página/12 was founded on May 25, 1987, by journalist Jorge Lanata in association with writer Osvaldo Soriano and investigative journalist Horacio Verbitsky...
included renowned artists such as Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date...
, Paquito D’Rivera, B.B. King, Baden Powell, Lalo Schiffrin, Chucho Valdéz and Joe Zawinul
Joe Zawinul
Josef Erich Zawinul was an Austrian-American jazz keyboardist and composer.First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul went on to play with trumpeter Miles Davis, and to become one of the creators of jazz fusion, an innovative musical genre that combined jazz with...
. Inzillo returned to radio as host of Jazzología laser, on FM Jazz, from 1991, and Raices ("Roots") on Radio Nacional, from 1999 until 2003. A prolific historian in his subject, from 1974 onwards he hosted lectures on jazz-related subjects as diverse as Free Jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
, Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
, Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands....
, Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, Charlie Shavers
Charlie Shavers
Charles James Shavers , known as Charlie Shavers, was an American swing era jazz trumpet player who played at one time or another with Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Sidney Bechet, Midge Williams and Billie Holiday...
and Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
. Inzillo was bestowed a Konex Award
Konex Award
Konex Foundation awards, or simple Konex awards are cultural awards from the Konex Foundation to Argentine cultural personalities.Created in 1980, where conceived as a way to reward the Argentine personalities and institutions of different fields, as well as to stimulate the beginners.Even though...
, the highest in the Argentine cultural realm, in 2005, and directed the Standards program for the 2008 Buenos Aires Jazz Festival
Buenos Aires Jazz Festival
The Buenos Aires Jazz Festival is a music festival first organized in its current form by the city government of Buenos Aires in 2002. The festival takes place in multiple venues and, in recent years, has attracted around 36,000 spectators.-Overview:...
.