Real Stories

Cool Jazz, Real Genius

Course:
MUS 102: History of Jazz
Department:
Music
Faculty:
Professor Danilo "Danny" Lozano

"Students do get tired of lectures, and sometimes, they say they just want me to show them what I can do," says Danny Lozano, Whittier music professor and professional Cuban flautist. "But instead of playing for them in class, I ask them to come to places I’m performing—like Steamer's Jazz Café or some other local places. That way, they get to meet all these fabulous musicians and hear them play, and we all get to hang together. After an evening spent soaking up these performances, the payoff is great. Not only do students expand their musical knowledge, they also get a taste of the more offbeat, L.A. culture.

“Even better, a couple of them have even told me the next day, 'Hey, we didn't really know you were that good," he laughs.

In addition to their teaching workloads, most all Whittier's dynamic faculty are active scholars, artists, and researchers in their respective fields - which means students often benefit from their established professional networks and valuable career mentorship. One of the world’s leading Cuban charanga and Latin jazz flute musicians, Prof. Lozano is a three-time Grammy Award winner, a founding member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and a featured artist on the soundtrack for Andy Garcia's film The Lost City (watch for Lozano's cameo appearance as the band leader in this film). From a prominent musical family, he has played with numerous symphonies and orchestras throughout the country, and also appeared at the Rose Bowl, first fighting for the football championship with the USC Trojans, then later—much later—as a concert soloist.