The Experience
AMLA (Latin American Musicians’ Association) is not only the best place in town to buy, hear or dance to Latin music, but also the intellectual center of all Latin American music in Philadelphia. Led by Philadelphia-born Cuban/Puerto Rican producer Jesse Bermudez, the Asociacion de Musicos Latino Americanos is the clearinghouse for Latin jazz, salsa, merengue, Cuban and Puerto Rican folk music and even classical guitar in Philadelphia.
Some of Philadelphia’s best Latin musicians, such as percussionists Pablo Batista and Orlanda Fiol and pianist Elio Villafranca, teach at AMLA’s esteemed Latin School of the Arts. The organization also presents international artists in a program of seminars, lectures, master classes and films entitled "Cultural Treasures" (Tesoros Culturales) at its North 6th Street address.
AMLA’s music school also goes on the road, as members of its faculty travel to schools throughout the Philadelphia region to give students a taste of Latin music’s triple heritage – African, European and Native American.
History
Established in 1982 by a coalition of Philly’s top Latin musicians, AMLA is located in the midst of El Barrio – the largely Latino part of North Philadelphia surrounding the area known as the “Golden Block” near Fifth and Lehigh. AMLA, which moved into its present headquarters in 2000, is now, with the Painted Bride, trying to establish a million-dollar jazz endowment by 2005.