Since 1992 "Jazz Tropicale" is heard every Sunday at 10:00 pm on 90.9 FM, Public Radio from College of DuPage. "It's a jazz show with a few palm trees."

Marshall Vente's long-standing love of Brazilian and Latin music is showcased in his role as host of "Jazz Tropicale," airing at 10 pm Sunday.

"Jazz Tropicale" is a jazz show with palm trees." Vente says. "I'm very grateful to WDCB for giving me the opportunity to present some of the music I love."

A typical two-hour program provides a variety of forms of Latin music: traditional to contemporary, Brazilian to Caribbean, and vocal to percussion pieces.  Vente respects such traditional Brazilian composers as Jobim and Nascimento and their contributions to Latin music, and he doesn't hesitate to play vocals in Portugeese

"Latin music is perhaps advancing and certainly altering the face of jazz." Vente explains. "The artists of Brazil and the Caribbean are merging modern jazz with new rhythms and writing new compositions.  This might be the rennaissance for rhythm in the same way bebop was for harmony 50 years ago.  Jazz has always advanced by incorporating other influences."