Iago Banet [Samuel Preira]

THERE is a very distinctive Latin American/Iberian flavour to local gigs in the coming months, thanks in large part to La Linea Festival (April 20-May 6).

This fiesta covers almost every aspect of Latino music – from son Cubano to Columbian cumbia. Jazz will feature in the mix because it and Latin are kissing cousins, with many jazzers (Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Chick Corea, Cal Tjader etc etc) embracing the musical traditions, rhythms and harmonies of South and Central America (and, by default the motherlodes of Africa, Spain and Portugal).

And it has always been a two-way traffic with musicians such as Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim, Gato Barbieri, Alex Acuña, Danilo Pérez, Leo Genovese, Airto Moreira and Hermeto Pascoal developing a personal and sophisticated jazz-Latino language.

In fact, it is Camden’s Jazz Café that plays host to many of the events, notably Latinas of London (May 2), a celebration of the continent’s diaspora who have settled here in the UK.

Hosted by singer Desta French, it includes rising sax star Allexa Nava, who fuses contemporary groove-based jazz and improvisation with her Peruvian Heritage, and the powerful voice of Ecuadorian-Spanish vocalist Xativa, whose music is more of a jazz-folk fusion.

Elaine Correa

We switch to Portuguese for the London debut of Zé Ibarra, best known as the lynchpin of the Brazilian band Bala Desejo, who found plenty of UK radio play for a breathily seductive album called SIM SIM SIM. On his solo albums the multi-instrumentalist and singer blends pop, jazz and his Brazilian roots into an unbelievably catchy and cool cinematic soundscape – hear him at the Jazz Café, on May 6.

The splendid classically trained (but Latin/Afro-jazz influenced) pianist Eliane Correa has put together a 10-piece all-female orchestra (women performers actually dominate this festival) called Las Salseras to celebrate the music of the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. It performs at the Café on April 25 and features Allexa Nava on sax and the high-flying Olivia Cuthill on trumpet. Expect to dance.

There’s a lot more on offer from La Linea, from fado to “nu cumbia”, with gigs at Union Chapel, the Barbican, the Village Underground and other spots. For full details and tickets see: https://comono.co.uk/la-linea/

Desta French

It’s not part of the festival, but there is a chance to see masterful Galician acoustic guitarist Iago Banet in Camden on May 7. “Spanish guitar” suggests flamenco, but there is much more in his bag than just the single genre – gypsy jazz, blues, Americana, swing and folk all get a work-out during his finger-busting sets. He’s been touring larger venues in Spain of late, but here is an opportunity to see him up close in the intimate setting of the Green Note. Tickets and details: https://www.greennote.co.uk/production/iago-banet/

The legend that is singer-songwriter (and activist and actor) Rubén Blades plays the Roundhouse on July 8. He is promoting 2025’s Fotografías album, which recently won the Latin Grammy for Best Salsa Album and received a Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Music Album and no doubt playing tribute to his one-time collaborator, the recently deceased trombonist/bandleader Willie Colón (they worked in the seminal Fania All Stars together).

Backing Blades is Roberto Delgado Big Band, a 20-piece ensemble from Panama (as is Blades), which is able to switch effortlessly from traditional salsa to exuberant big band Latin jazz with an infectious momentum. It’s music that is bound to get the Roundhouse audience moving to a Latin beat. Tickets: https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/ruben-blades/