CHARANGA-FEST to Celebrate Latin Music at Hostos Center Next Month

Continuing its success of presenting programs that celebrate the popular genres in Latin music, including Boogaloo and Mambo, the Hostos Center presents a nostalgic look back at the Charanga era, based on lively Cuban dances, with "Charanga-Fest" featuring three of the top Charanga bands in New York, and special guest artists on Saturday, November 5, at 7:30 PM in the Center's Main Theater.

"Charanga-Fest" includes performances by Orquesta Broadway, under the direction of Eddy Zervigon, Charanga '76 with Andrea Brachfeld, and Típica Novel, led by Mauricio Smith, Jr., and special guest artists including the legendary Cuban violinist Félix 'Pupi' Legaretta, and flutists Karen Joseph and Connie Grossman. Chico Álvarez, host of the Latin Jazz show "New World Gallery" on WBAI, is master of ceremonies.

Tickets are $25 and $30 ($10 for students and under 18) and are available through www.hostoscenter.org or by calling (718) 518-4455. The Hostos Center Box Office, 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street, Bronx, is open Monday through Friday 1 PM to 4 PM and two hours prior to performance. "Charanga-Fest" is co-produced by the Hostos Center with Richie Bonilla Artist Management.

A Charanga is a traditional ensemble that plays Cuban dance music. These ensembles made Cuban dance music popular in the 1940s and their music consisted of heavily son-influenced material, performed on European instruments such as violin and flute. The style of music that is most associated with a Charanga is termed 'Danzón', and is an amalgam of both European classical music and African rhythms. Cuban immigrants to New York in the early 1960s formed Charanga bands including Típica Novel and Orquesta Broadway, forming in 1961 and 1962 respectively. During the Latin music explosion in New York in the 1970s and 80s, the next wave of Cuban immigrants to New York revived the genre and formed Charanga groups, including La Charanga '76 in 1976.

Support for Hostos Center for Arts and Culture programs are provided by the Eugenio María de Hostos Community College Foundation, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the New York City Council, the Office of New York State Assemblyman José Rivera, and the Office of New York City Councilmember, Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Orquesta Broadway was co-founded in 1962 by Cuban-born Eddy Zervigón and Roberto Torres and has proved to be one of New York's longest surviving charangas. With confusion over what to call the band, the members eventually settled for the suggestion of a promoter, who dubbed them 'Orquesta Broadway' because most band members lived near the avenue. Orquesta Broadway made their debut with Dengue (1964) on the Gema label, which contained the cha cha hit "Como Camina María." Their series of four albums between 1965 and 1968 helped to consolidate their popularity as one of New York's top ten bands. After being based in Miami for several years, Orquesta Broadway returned to New York in 1975. Signed to Coco Records, they released four albums between 1975 and 1981. Pasaporte (1976), produced by revered trombonist Barry Rogers, enhanced their popularity, and, in 1977, the Orquesta was the city's busiest band, playing 15 dances a week. In 1982, Orquesta Broadway Loves New Yorkwas released on their own Broadway Records label. Orquesta Broadway celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2002 with a well-received recording of the same name and its 50th anniversary, in 2012, with a spectacular concert outdoors at Lincoln Center.

Charanga '76 was organized in the city of Union City, NJ and made its debut at Liberty Park, New York City on July 4th, 1976.They were hired by "El Centro Cultural Cubano de N.Y." to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Charanga '76 plays a repertoire of Cuban and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Simultaneously in 1976, Charanga '76 released its first L.P. which produced the run-away hit "Soy", a ballad composed by Willy Chirino. This first recording was the debut of two singers in a new type of format. It was the first time a Charanga orchestra used singers in harmony and falsetto, and where the ballads were arranged and performed in up-tempo son-guaracha "Salsa" rhythms. This bicentennial date was also the debut of Andrea Brachfeld as the first female flutist in the lead role in a Charanga band. It was the beginning of a lifetime leadership association with Charanga '76. Among their many recordings together include No Nos Pararán (Ain't No Stopping Us Now"), Live at Roseland and Manhattan Groove.

Típica Novel started in 1961 in New York City by Héctor Zeno and his partner at the timE Eddy Rodríguez. When these two founding members left the band, the leadership was taken over by Willie Ellis, pianist and musical director, along with Alberto González and Marco Motroni both vocalists at the time. The band became world renowned under the Fania Record Label and Ralph Mercado, who was their original promoter. Among the many prominent Latin artists that have been members include: Mauricio Smith, Sr., Don González Fernández, Mike García, Néstor Torres, Jimmy Bosch, Pupi Legarreta and Jimmy Delgado. When Willie Ellis passed away, the band was taken over by his nephew Rafael Rodríguez who produced two recordings Mejor Que Nunca and La Nueva Generación. Due to work conflicts, Rodríguez left the band and moved to Florida. As all the remaining band members were still in New York, it was decided that the band would remain in New York and be under the musical direction of Mauricio Smith, Jr. and Joe Ayala.

Innovative Cuban violinist, flautist, singer, band leader, arranger, composer Félix"Pupi" Legarreta was a key participant in the early 60s pachanga/charanga craze, the mid-70s to early 80s charanga revival and the New York descarga (improvised music based on Cuban themes) movement. As a boy he paid for violin tuition by working as a barber, which his father urged him to abandon. Legarreta left Cuba in 1959 and joined the USA's second charanga band, Orquesta Nuevo Ritmo. His recording debut as band leader was 1963's Salsa Nova on Tico. He performed on the noteworthy descarga sets including Pacheco His Flute and Latin Jam (1965) led by Johnny Pacheco. A decade later, he took part in the classics Cachao Y Su Descarga '77 Vol. 1 (1976) and Dos (1977) by descarga pioneer Israel 'Cachao' López. He signed with Fania Records and released a series of four albums between 1975 and 1980 on its Vaya Records subsidiary. In the second half of the 70s, he regularly guested on Larry Harlow's albums, including El Judio Maravilloso (1975) and La Raza Latina(1977 which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Pupi Pa' Bailar was Legaretta's last album as a leader in 1980 as by that time the 70s New York charanga explosion had begun to run out of steam.

Multi-award-winning flutist Connie Grossman has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad and has studied and performed in Cuba. Classically trained, Grossman holds a BFA in Flute Performance and a MAT in Music Education. She performs as a Latin jazz and classical soloist, and has played and recorded with many of the top groups in the Latin music scene including; the late Yomo Toro; her own group, "Charanga Pasión"; Charanson; The Latin Jazz Coalition; Cocomama; Juan Carlos Formell; and Companhia das Musicas. Grossman is the recipient of the Bronx Council on the Arts' BRIO award for one of her original compositions, the New York Latin Music "Pionero" award and the "Charanga Legends Lifetime Contribution to Charanga Music Award." She has taught instrumental music in public schools throughout the Bronx and Westchester County for over 25 years.

Karen Joseph, born in Brooklyn, NY, received her Bachelor's Degree from the Philadelphia Musical Academy. As a flutist, she has performed with the who's who of Latin music including: La Charanga '76, Charlie Rodríguez's Conjunto featuring Johnny Pacheco and Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, and Hansel y Raul with the legendary Israel 'Cachao' Lopez. Currently, Joseph can be heard with Charanga América, Siglo 20, Leopoldo Fleming's Afro-Caribbean Aggregation, Luis Blasini y Oroko La Banda, YeraSon Orquesta Charanga and Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans. Her recording credits include: Doug Hammond, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Grant Greene, Cornell Dupree, Charanga '76, Kid Creole and the Coconuts and the Fania All Stars.

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture consists of a museum-grade art gallery, a 367-seat Repertory Theater, and a 900-seat Main Theater, presenting artists of national and international renown. It is easily accessible from Manhattan, Queens and New Jersey and is a mere 15 minutes by subway from midtown Manhattan

Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change, transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. Hostos serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, and a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College's unique "student success coach" program, which partners students with individualized guidance, is emblematic of the premier emphasis on student support and services.

Hostos offers 29 associate degree programs and 5 certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos Community College is part of CUNY, the nation's leading urban public university serving more than 480,000 students at 24 colleges.