Performance is a central component of every student's education at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and the Ensemble Showcases are where faculty-led student groups showcase their talent and creativity.

In 1940, the Afro-Cuban tradition began right here in New York City. Machito and his Afro-Cubans, under the direction of maestro Mario Bauza, fused the harmonic sophistication of jazz with the rhythmic complexity of Afro-Cuban music. The Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra Ensemble explores that rich legacy with a repertoire that encompasses the past, present, and future of the genre. The ensemble performs once a month at the Nuyorican Poets Café and every semester in a school concert featuring a renowned guest soloist.