The Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano (CCPA) announced a new edition of its popular “Jazz Night” series. This edition is set to take place on Friday, 7 November 2025, at 20:00 in the Teatro de las Américas (José Berges 297) in Asunción. Admission is free, ensuring broad access to an evening of world-class performances. American pianist Richard D. Johnson will serve as the evening’s headline act, performing alongside the CCPA Jazz Quintet. The programme also features the Ensamble Palito Miranda and concludes with a jam session showcasing prominent Paraguayan jazz figures.
The CCPA Jazz Quintet, established in 2003 to foster jazz education and performance in Paraguay, has become a cornerstone of the country’s jazz scene through its annual concert seasons. The Ensamble Palito Miranda, known for its original compositions and contemporary Latin American jazz perspective, adds further depth to the line-up.
About Richard D. Johnson
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – a city renowned for its jazz heritage – Johnson began playing piano at age five under his father’s guidance. He graduated with a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, earned a Master’s in Jazz Pedagogy from Boston Conservatory. Also, he completed the prestigious Artist Diploma at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance.
A former member of Wynton Marsalis’s Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Johnson has shared stages with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, and Stevie Wonder. He has represented the United States as a musical ambassador in over 91 countries. Currently, he serves as Associate Professor of Jazz Piano at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, heads the AFAR Music label, and is a Yamaha artist.The Jazz Night is presented by the CCPA with support from Blue Moon.
“A celebration of cultural exchange”
María Graciela Meza, Cultural Department Coordinator at the CCPA, described the event as “a celebration of music as a universal language.” She emphasised how collaborations between local artists and international figures strengthen Paraguay’s jazz community and align with the CCPA’s mission to promote artistic exchange.
Paula Rodríguez, bassist and director of the CCPA Jazz Quintet, called the opportunity to perform with Johnson “a privilege and a great artistic responsibility.”
She noted that such partnerships elevate interpretive standards and broaden musicians’ horizons.
Evening highlights
Johnson’s set with the Quintet forms the centrepiece of the night. The Ensamble Palito Miranda will present its distinctive repertoire, blending original works with a modern jazz aesthetic.
The event will close with an open jam session in the CCPA patio, featuring veteran drummer Toti Morel, pianist Víctor Scura, bassist Josías Montanía, and vocalist Cristina Bitiusca, alongside other invited guests from Paraguay’s jazz scene.
Read more: Paraguay to host the 10th International Clarinet Festival 2025.
