El Taller Latino Americano proudly presents an Encuentro of Nuyorican poetry, Free Jazz, and Nueva Canción.

Karl Berger's Improvisers Orchestra of 20+ professional string, horn, and percussion soloists begins a new chapter at El Taller with its inaugural Encuentro.

The founding father of free jazz and his Improvisers Orchestra will accompany "Poet and Prophet of El Barrio," Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, and icon of Nueva canción and El Taller founder, Bernardo Palombo, as they perform a poem and a song honoring Antonia Martínez Lagares.

Using his "Music Mind" concept, Karl introduces a new approach and experience of harmonizing improvised sound. Conducted in Karl's distinctive style, developed at the celebrated Creative Music studio, this orchestra of extraordinary improvisers explores original themes, melodies of the world's folk traditions, and compositions written by legendary artists such as Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman. One of the orchestra's trademarks is Ingrid Sertso's remarkable poetry and vocalization.

Ideas developed in the 7:00 PM Workshop / Rehearsal transform into a fully formed 8:30 PM Performance. El Taller will also host a soiree with the artists after the performance.