NPR Toast of the Nation 2004

“Toast of the Nation” is NPR's annual New Year's Eve special, a multi-hour broadcast featuring live jazz performances from different locations and time zones around the world.

A testament to the vibrancy of the jazz scene in Denver, Toast of the Nation has visited Denver three times since it began in the 1970s.

 In 2004, NPR member station KUVO hosted Toast of the Nation with The Latin Giants of Jazz under the direction of percussionist Jose Madera. The Latin Giants of Jazz is a band made up of members of the former Tito Puente Orchestra. Special guest pianist Eddie Palmieri was on the bandstand too! At midnight, the band led a mambo version of Auld Lang Syne. The venue was The Holiday Inn at I-70 and Chambers Road. The event was anchored by KUVO JAZZ's Carlos Lando and Alfredo Cruz, NPR’s executive producer (who would later become KUVO’s General Manager).