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Plena
Libre Takes Their Infectious Grooves on Tour
For
years the political status of Puerto Rico has been fraught with
ambivalence and disagreement. But there will always be a strong
cultural identity holding the island together. Plena music is a
big part of that identity, and Plena Libre seeks to take
this music from Puerto Rico and out on to mainland dancefloors this
summer. Plena, a popular genre that from its inception served as
the people's oral newsetter, found itself in the shadow of Cuban
originated salsa and the Dominican merengue in past few decades
and relegated to folk revivals. Gary Nunez, bassist and bandleader,
has taken the plena off the shelf and dusted it for new audiences
to appreciate. Plena Libre became central to the genre's revival.
On their latest effort ¡Estamos Gozando! (Times
Square Records), the group pays homage to decades of plena composers.
Unlike other plena groups old and new, Plena Libre absorbs the influence
of the lush NYC-salsa horn arrangements and kicks it up with their
thick trombone section and big band arrangements.
Plena Libre will spend their summer touring up and down the eastern
half of North America. In addition to the dates below, coverage
in association with your local Puerto Rican parade or other celebration
would make a great tie-in.
Plena Libre Tour Dates:
6/30/2004
Philadelphia, PA
Kimmel Center
7/07/2004 Montreal, QC
Montreal Jazz Fest
7/08/2004 London, Ontario
SunFest Festival
7/10/2004 Winnipeg, MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival
7/15/2004 Chicago, IL
Summer Dance, World Music Festical, Spirit of Music Gardens, 601
S. Michigan St.
7/16/2004 Halifax, NS
Atlantic Jazz Festival
7/17/2004 Toronto, ON
Ritmo Y Color Festival
7/18/2004 Holyoke, MA
Puerto Rican Festival, McNally Field, behind 216 West St.
7/23/2004 Atlantic City, NJ
Stockton Performing Arts Center
7/29/2004 Binghampton, NY
Southern Tiers Celebrate
7/31/2004 Brooklyn, NY
Celebrate Brooklyn
8/07/2004 Newark, NJ
Branch Brook Park
8/08/2004 Boston, MA
Puerto Rican Festival, Franklin Park
8/10/2004 Boston, MA
Scullers Jazz Club
8/12/2004 Bronx, NY
Concert at the Park, 52nd St.
8/13/2004 New York, NY
Lincoln Center Out of Doors
8/14/2004 Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem Musikfest
8/15/2004 Schenectady, NY
Agnus, Duck Pond Road
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