Mario Bauza

Mario Bauza (April 28, 1911 in Havana, Cuba - July 11, 1993 in New York City) was one of the most influential figures in the development of latin jazz. Trained as a classical musician, he played oboe and clarinet in Havana. After emigrating to New York at age 19, he reputedly learned to play the trumpet in two weeks and earned a spot as a player in Chick Webb's orchestra. But it was in Cab Calloway's band that Bauza met fellow trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie.