Join us in the intimate Maxwell Lounge for free screenings of jazz documentaries — with popcorn!
The Last Mambo (2023), directed by Bay Area filmmaker and musician Rita Hargrave, explores the past, present, and future of the San Francisco Bay Area’s salsa and Latin jazz community. The film reveals how socio-economic and political marginalization has threatened the growth and survival of this vibrant music and dance community for decades.
The Last Mambo details the struggles of African-American and Latino musicians in the Bay Area since the 1930s, and explores the cultural cross-pollination that occurred throughout the 1950s when mambo was first introduced to mainstream American audiences. The film celebrates the passion and dedication of the Bay Area Latin music community in overcoming adversity to educate and inspire the next generation of musicians, dancers, and audiences.