A one hour documentary about traditional Afro-Peruvian music and dance (and the community's history), "A Zest for Life" also informs about the rhythms and percussion instruments the tradition has contributed to Latin jazz. Our star is Lalo Izquierdo: dancer, choreographer, percussionist and folklorist. He is ably supported in the performance sections by the group "de Rompe y Raja." With illustrations of fascinating percussion instruments like the quijada de burro and the Peruvian cajon, footage of part of the traditional Afro-Peruvian celebration of Christmas that is called the "hatajos de negritos," which dates from the days of slavery and is still maintained by Afro-Peruvian communities in the southern coastal area such as el Carmen, the documentary is both lively and full of surprises. The charistmatic Lalo Izquierdo not only performs but also provides substantial background information. The marvelous percussionists Juan Medrano Cotito and Huevito Lobaton also make cameo appearance with, among other things, Cotito playing the checo and Huevito, the cajon. In addition, talented criollo singer-songwriter Jorge Luis Jasso performs one of his own compositions as well as singing Peru's "national music," la Marinera. This documentary, a major revision of an earlier work, is produced, directed and hosted by Eve A. Ma, with Richard R. Lee serving as associate director and Lalo Izquierdo as star. It is part of Ma's series on world music and dance, "The Languages of Sound and Movement. ".
