Better known as "Quinteto de Jazz Oliver
Griffith", the group was formed upon the initiative
of Mr. Oliver Griffith, the Political and Economic Officer
for the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo. The Jazz quintet features
some of the most notable local musicians: Gaston Contenti
on trumpet, Diego Goldstein on piano, Jorge Rodriguez on
drums and Gabriel Rodriguez on bass. Griffith is on saxo.
This group has performed regularly at venues
such as Plaza Bolero, Che Montevideo, Don Trigo Enfrente,
the Alianza Cultural Uruguay-Estados Unidos, Alliance Francaise,
El Sotano, and elsewhere. Its repertoire extends from "Cool"
Jazz of the fifties to "Hard Bop" of the sixties
and seventies to Latin Jazz.
Last night's performance at the Prado fairgrounds
was part the entertainment scheduled for the Fair's last
day wich delighted audiences of all ages and walks of life.
Aside from his work as a diplomat, Mr. Griffith
has been performing as a jazz musician in various countries
in South America, Africa and Europe. In Venezuela he joined
the group of singer Franco de Vita, in Trinidad he performed
at the International Pan-Jazz Festival, in Africa he headlined
the Chad Jazz Festival and in Uruguay he organized the horn
section and performed with Mary Wilson and the Supremes.
