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La Moderna Tradición // Berkeley
August 12 @ 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm
$25
Founded by master Cuban percussionist/dancer Roberto Borrell and violinist/composer Tregar Otton in 1996, the San Francisco based Orquesta la Moderna Tradición has been wowing dancers and Cuban music aficionados alike with their original take on the sweet but driving grooves of Charanga, featuring violins and woodwinds interlocking with driving afro-Cuban rhythms.
The Orquesta is truly unique as one of the only ensembles in the world carrying on the tradition of this legendary brand of popular Cuban dance music with passionate devotion. Orq. LMT thrills audiences with a mix of contemporary timba-infused arrangements guaranteed to get you on your feet and traditional danzón and cha-cha-chá transporting you back to the Havana social clubs of the 1950s.
Friday & Saturday, Aug 11th & 12th, at 8 PM
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición
Freight & Salvage
2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.
See video!
About show:
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición
DANCE FLOOR OPEN
RAÍCES: A SERIES CURATED BY JOHN SANTOS.
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición plays traditional and modern Cuban music – at once transporting you to an era of sensual danzones and swinging cha-chas and playing modern timba-infused music guaranteed to satisfy dancers from danzón to modern salsa/Cuban music. The only band in the United States that plays their brand of music, the Orquesta captures the romance and style of a memorable era in Cuban dance music and will keep everyone on their feet. Violins and flutes weave lilting melodies against the backdrop of driving Afro-Cuban rhythms.
As one critic said: “Imagine a blend of Tito Puente and a tango, and you’ll begin to get an idea of the power and beauty of this music.”
Featuring the best of the Bay Area Cuban music scene, they will be performing with Tregar Otton, Sandy Poindexter and Anthony Blea on violins, Eduardo Herrera and Félix Samuel on lead vocals, Maru Pérez-Viana on coros, Sage Baggott on coros and güiro, Julio De La Cruz on piano, Carlitos Medrano on congas, Remi Spiro on timbales, Ayla Dávila on bass, and John Calloway on flute.
“Richly authentic… old wine in a new bottle for a younger generation to savor” – Jesse Varela, Latin Beat Magazine
More about band:
Featuring Tregar Otton, Eduardo Herrera, Maru Pérez-Viana, Jason Moen, Osvaldo Carvajal, Michael and Remi Spiro, Sandy Poindexter, Carlitos Medrano, Ayla Dávila and Richard Light.
Since 1996, this group has thrilled audiences across the country with a mix of contemporary timba-infused arrangements guaranteed to get you on your feet and traditional danzónes that transport you back to the Havana social clubs of the 1950s.
La Moderna Tradición has performed at Lincoln Center in New York, the Smithsonian Institution, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Telluride Jazz Festival, and many others — their tours have taken them from Alaska to El Paso and abroad.
“Orquesta La Moderna Tradición continues to produce some of the finest danzón-charanga dance material anywhere….Gorgeous.” Bruce Polin, descarga.com says of their latest CD, En Canto
“Richly authentic… old wine in a new bottle for a younger generation to savor”. Jesse Varela, Latin Beat Magazine
“It’s cadence is so sensual that it’s virtually irresistible!” Enrique Fernandez, Miami Sun Sentinel.
- Félix Samuel – Lead singer
- Orlando Torriente – Coros and güiro
- Maru Pérez-Viana – Coros
- Julio De La Cruz – Piano
- Ayla Dávila – Bass
- Remi Spiro – Timbales
- Michael Spiro – Congas
- John Calloway – Flute
- Sandy Poindexter – Violin
- Tregar Otton – Violin.