Latin Jazz

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the rich musical heritage of the U.S. with the issuance of the Latin Jazz stamp in 2008. The stamp features a bold, graphic design by San Francisco-based artist — and Latin jazz fan — Michael Bartalos.

Eager to capture the upbeat, energetic, and romantic spirit that characterizes much of Latin jazz, Bartalos has created a tropical evening scene that depicts three musicians playing bass, piano, and conga drums. The design conveys the multicultural aspects of the music, its percussive and improvisational nature, and of course its rhythmic complexity.

Bartalos previously designed the 1996 Marathon stamp.