Led and curated by singer-songwriter and violinist Carrie Rodriguez, Laboratorio is an annual four-part concert series that utilizes world-class musicianship, the visual arts, and storytelling to explore and celebrate Latine culture. Each show features Carrie and the all-star Laboratorio house band in collaboration with different guest artists.  

Laboratorio returns to Austin’s historic State Theatre with Bolero Inmortal, a performance that features a special collaboration between legendary Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and Carrie Rodriguez & the Laboratorio orquesta.

The performance draws inspiration from the 1958 Mexican musical drama Bolero Inmortal. Directed by Rafael Portillo, the film captures the essence of Mexico’s Época de Oro (Golden Age of Cinema/Music) and features some of the era's greatest hits performed by its most celebrated stars—including Rodriguez’s great-aunt, Eva Garza.

Throughout the evening, imaginative interpretations of classic Mexican boleros will be woven together with clips from the film. The Laboratorio orquesta features a premier lineup of jazz and Latin music maestros: Brannen Temple on drums, Roscoe Beck on upright bass, Sergio Mendoza on piano, Alex Marrero on Latin percussion and vocals, and David Pulkingham on nylon-string guitar.

This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.