Rafael Moreno

I love Jazz because it's an all-encompassing style of music. In its many variants such as Bebop, Latin Jazz, free jazz, and others, I find an ever- expanding source of inspiration. I was first exposed to jazz when I listened to the music of Tito Puente, without knowing that that was Latin Jazz. Then when I became a student at Berklee, I was exposed to Jazz musicians and history, and that was a game changer for me. I've met great Jazz musicians who were also my teachers at Berklee such as Jackson Schultz, Peter Kenagy, and Rick McLaughlin, who taught me a great deal about Jazz musicians, Jazz Harmony and Arranging, and Jazz History. The best show I ever attended was BTALC Big Band. The first jazz record I bought was Miles Ahead, by Miles Davis. My advice to new listeners would be: Expose yourselves to new and diverse music styles as often as possible.