American Bands Chosen to Play Abroad

During the Cold War, the U.S. State Department sent jazz musicians abroad to improve the country's image. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, and other "jazz ambassadors" traveled to Asia, Africa, and the Soviet Union, giving performances and leading jam sessions. The musical freedom of jazz was thought to mirror democratic freedoms, and racially diverse bands showed that the U.S. was willing to embrace racial equality in the 1950s.

While combating Soviet propaganda is no longer a concern, the State Department, in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center continues to send American bands abroad to promote cross-cultural understanding. The program, now known as The Rhythm Road, chooses ten bands a year to perform and give clinics in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Below is the list of groups chosen to act as cultural ambassadors in 2009:

• Brian Horton Quartet
• Chris Byars Quartet
• Duende Quartet
• Eli Yamin Blues Band
• Hoppin’ John String Band
• NuGenerations
• Roseanna Vitro Quartet
• Ryan Cohan Quartet
• The Student Loan
• Vice Verse All Stars

Image of Duende Quartet Courtesy of Jazz at Lincoln Center