CLASSICAL VIOLINIST FINDS DELIGHT IN SALSA, LATIN JAZZ.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

There's nothing simple about jazz violinist Susie Hansen. Of Irish and Danish descent, she plays Latin jazz but grew up learning classical violin from her father, a violinist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. And if that isn't enough, she holds a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Now firmly entrenched in the music field, the Chicago native appears Sunday in Newhall Park as part of Santa Clarita's seventh annual Concerts in the Parks series. The show will feature Hansen's nine-piece band delivering a potent mixture of jazz, salsa and Latin jazz.

``She's an incredible performer,'' said Sean Morgan, the city's cultural arts coordinator. ``She's a top violin player. She's played with Bobby Matos and Tito Puente.''

Hansen's coming performance marks her second appearance in the city concert series. In 1991, she drew an enthusiastic crowd that rocked to her mambo and salsa dance rhythms.

``It was a lot of fun last time,'' Hansen said. ``People seemed to appreciate the Latin jazz. We appreciate it when we're appreciated.''

Using drums, piano, electric bass and violin, Hansen uses Afro-Cuban medleys and charanga, society music of Cuba from the 1920s to the 1950s, to wow her audience.

``We're very respectful of the tradition of music,'' Hansen said. ``The tradition is well kept.''

Hansen's respect for the music and her top-notch performances have won over skeptics who tend to dismiss her at first glance.

``They think, `What is this white girl doing in my music?' '' Hansen said of her would-be critics. ``But they discover quickly that I'm very respectful of their music. I take time to learn the traditions and I have a natural affinity for the music. It kind of feels like I've known about the music all my life.''

Hansen also has learned first hand the machismo of the Latin culture. In the past, men have left the band because they couldn't take orders from a woman.

``With certain guys, they have trouble taking direction from a woman,'' she said, noting that things have changed. ``The guys I have in the band are very, very accepting of myself and who I am.''

Hansen began playing Latin jazz by accident when she was asked to replace a fired violinist in a Chicago charanga band in the mid-1980s. She hasn't looked back.

``The rhythm is so heartfelt,'' she said. ``The rhythm just makes you want to move. We see people in the audience moving in their seats.''

In recent years Hansen has noticed a growing interest in Latin jazz thanks to films such as ``Mambo Kings,'' starring Antonio Banderas.

``The popularity has grown tremendously,'' she said. ``People are starting to learn the dance steps, which is really just the mambo.''

Susie Hansen plays at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Newhall Park, 24933 Newhall Ave., and at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday at the Valencia Town Center, 24201 W. Valencia Blvd. Both concerts are free. For information on the city Concerts in the Parks series, call 298-ARTS.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) The Susie Hansen Band, specializing in salsa and Latin jazz, will perform Sunday in Newhall Park.

(2) Susie Hansen

Bandleader, MIT grad