The Conglomerate at their Record Release party

My quest for music in Central Florida has proven quite fruitful. Meet Chris Cortez, Musician and proprietor of Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts in Winter Park. An Orlando native, Chris founded Blue Bamboo 4 years ago and has created a room that is all about the music. A cozy and comfortable environment with incredible acoustics and a welcoming vibe that features a variety of homegrown and touring acts in Jazz, Classical and the occasional Pop, Soul or Funk group.

From the outside it is deceiving. From the street you find an old warehouse. Once inside you will find a home to a world class venue, recording facility and record label. Touring acts like Nicholas Payton and Dr. Lonnie Smith have played here and Chris himself plays frequently in a trio that changes names and styles each month.

We do indeed have some world class musicians here in Orlando and our thanks to Chris for providing a room for them to showcase their talents. Check out their web site for a calendar of events and be sure to bring a few extra bucks with you to pick up one of the many CD’s by Chris and the roster of Blue Bamboo.

Got an idea for This Is Orlando? Be sure to drop me a note. Thanks as always to the Orlando Game Space for their support as well as Carlos Ivan for the sound. This Is Orlando Podcast can be found on your favorite podcast app or here at robcoble.org