Wynton Marsalis,
and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

Tears of emotion, spontaneous laughter, admiration without any kind of boundaries, enjoyment of Cuban popular dances, exchanges at all artistic levels, delivery of collective virtuosity and teaching how to make jazz a universal message.

That could be the assessment of the weeklong visit to Cuba in October by trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra of New York, which he directs.

There is another result, one perhaps not as evident or proclaimed: the peoples of both nations were able to create an environment of understanding through music, to achieve a useful reciprocal comprehension.

The visiting artist was never publicly asked his opinion on the political dispute that Washington has turned into a half century blockade against Cuba.

His enthusiasm in sharing with musicians, students and the Cuban audience, his announcement that he will be coming back each year, and his invitation to young Cuban musicians to study at the cultural center sponsoring his trip would perhaps be the best answer.

His declared purpose was "to share our music and to learn". Wynton said "art is the chronicle of humanity, of people…we don't deal with prejudices, we try to embrace, to be more inclusive".