UPDATE: “Havana in the Garden District: A Night for Loyola” has been canceled. The university expects to reschedule the event for later in the year. 

Academy Award-nominated actor, director and producer Andy Garcia will join New Orleans’ best Cuban rhythm section and some of the city’s jazz greats in August for an evening of music at one of the finest homes in the Garden District.

Long known for his roles in films like the Untouchables, Stand and Deliver, The Godfather, Internal Affairs, When A Man Loves a Woman and Ocean’s Eleven through Thirteen, Garcia is also an accomplished percussionist who plays with some of the best Cuban musicians in Los Angeles. Dating to his work with the documentary Cachao: Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos and For Love or Country: the Arturo Sandoval Story, an undercurrent of his life’s work has been his love for music.

Thanks to Garcia’s generosity, and that of Scott Rodger, a Loyola trustee and music management agent at Maverick, Loyola alumni and members of the New Orleans community will have the opportunity to hear Garcia play in person.

On Friday, August 13, from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m., Scott will open his Garden District home for “Havana in the Garden District: A Night for Loyola,” a party and concert to benefit the university. Garcia will hook up with the finest Cuban rhythm section in New Orleans and a horn section of New Orleans jazz greats who are also on the Loyola faculty.

Andy will be joined by Alexey Marti and Cesar Bacaro on percussion, Victor Campbell on piano, Yusa on bass, Khari Allen Lee on sax, Jeff Albert on trombone, and other friends. They will play classic songs by Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria, as well as jazz classics on Cuban rhythms, and a few descargas that the band is creating just for this evening.

The evening of cocktails and music will include refreshments provided by restaurateur Robert LeBlanc, who owns Sylvain, The Chloe, Barrel Proof and Cavan, through his business LeBlanc + Smith. Faubourg Brewing Co. will be providing an assortment of its locally brewed beers.   

The evening will also be an occasion to celebrate Lynn Coatney, Loyola’s 2021 Integritas Vitae Award honoree. All proceeds from this event will benefit Loyola and its School of Music Industry, where Garcia’s son is a student.

A limited number of $500 tickets will be sold for this intimate event, and a limited number of sponsorships are available: Music Industry Patron Committee Membership: $2,000 (includes two tickets). Hancock Whitney serves as the title sponsor. Tickets may be purchased here.