City University of New York’s Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture, located at 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street) in the Bronx, N.Y., will be host Tito Puente: A Fifty-Year Retrospective of “El Rey” on April 20-22.
The three-day festival, under the direction of former Puente musical director José Madera, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra bassist and bandleader Carlos Henríquez and historian and archivist Joe Conzo Sr., examines Puente’s fifty-year career (1950-2000) through discussions, films, workshops and concerts, including music that has not been performed in over 50 years.
On April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theater, a 12-piece ensemble of young New York jazz musicians, conducted by Henríquez, will perform music from Puente’s “Latin-jazz” era (1967-2000).
On April 22 at 11:30 a.m.,”Who Is the King of Latin Music?”, a Lincoln Center Education family concert, will take place in the Main Theater. A multi-disciplinary arts workshop for children ages 5-10 starts at 10:30 a.m.
At 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theater, the Mambo Legends Orchestra, led by José Madera, John “Dandy” Rodríguez and Mitch Frohman, and featuring many Puente Orchestra alumni, will perform music from Puente’s “Palladium” era (1950-1966). Guest performers include vibraphonist Ronnie Puente and vocalist Cita Rodriguez.
For information on all events during the festival and to purchase tickets, visit the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture website.
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