Jairo Moreno

Jairo Moreno is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Music. His research focuses on the production of musical knowledge in modernity, Latin American and Afro-Caribbean music, and the intersections of sound with political and cultural practices. He has authored major works like Musical Representations, Subjects, and Objects and Syncopated Modernities, exploring themes such as listening practices, colonialism, and cultural hybridity.

His awards include the Society for American Music’s Irving Lowens Article Award (2005) and ACLS/National Humanities Center Fellowships. A former professional bassist, he has collaborated with musicians like Ray Barretto and contributed to Grammy-nominated recordings. His current research involves fieldwork with Brazil’s Pankararu community and Colombia’s Pacific region midwives, examining aural practices and metaphysics.

Key research themes include the political dimensions of music, the ethics of listening, and the role of sound in shaping cultural identity. His publications span music theory, ethnomusicology, and interdisciplinary studies, with recent work addressing Latin Americanisms and global jazz histories.

Scientific Awards:

• Society for American Music 2005 Irving Lowens Article Award
• ACLS Fellowship (2009–2010)
• National Humanities Center Fellowship (2012–2013)

Advising & Grants: While no specific advisees are listed, his work involves collaborative fieldwork and interdisciplinary projects funded by fellowships. His musical career includes performances with the Ciompi String Quartet and guitarist David Starobin, reflecting his dual academic and artistic engagement.

Labs/Teams: Fieldwork collaborations with Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities emphasize participatory research, combining ethnography with historical analysis to document marginalized aural traditions.