LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents Global Tour Concert of the Hit Salsa Album “Indestructible”

DIEGO EL CIGALA

Special Guests: Tito Allen, John “Dandy” Rodriguez,
Jimmy Bosch, Ricky Gonzalez and Jimmy Delgado

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present four-time Latin GRAMMY Winner DIEGO EL CIGALA in his global tour concert of his new hit salsa album Indestructible on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 at 8pm. El Cigala’s collaborations with world-renowned Latin American artists have earned him a reputation for seamlessly melding the rhythms and melodies of his Spanish Gitano heritage with styles ranging from bolero to son, tango and Afro-Caribbean jazz, leading NPR to identify him as “a musical game-changer, the rare musician who single-handedly alters the direction of a genre.”  This special concert introduces Indestructible, his latest album of ‘70s salsa classics reinvented with El Cigala’s soulful, inimitable flamenco touch. El Cigala will be joined by guest salsa artists Tito Allen, John “Dandy” Rodriguez, Jimmy Bosch, Ricky Gonzalez and Jimmy Delgado. Produced by Lehman Center and Leo Tizol.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468.  Tickets for DIEGO EL CIGALA on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 at 8pm are $100*VIP, $65, $55, and $50 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Thursday,10am–5pm, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through online access atwww.LehmanCenter.org. *New This Season: HAVANA CAFÉ and Lehman Center special VIP pre-concert wine & hors d’oeuvres reception starting at 6:30pm. VIP tickets include the reception and the best seats in the house. At the reception meet other patrons and the staff of Lehman Center. Sponsored by Havana Café Restaurant and Havana Club Puerto Rican Rum. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. Low-cost on-site parking available for $5.

DIEGO “EL CIGALA” SALAZAR was born in the El Rastro district of Madrid into a musical family of artists and intellectuals. When he was 12 years old, he won the Certamen Flamenco Joven de Getafe (Madrid flamencocompetition for young singers) and an award on the Spanish TV show Gente Joven. As a teenager, he sang for well known flamenco dancers and on recordings by Camarón, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo. Nicknamed“El Cigala” (the little prawn) because of the enormous vocal passion that pours out of Diego’s small frame, he started his solo career at age 19, gaining popularity in Spain’s flamenco community with a steady stream of Spanish hit albums while singing in local clubs. In 2003 he recorded Lágrimas Negras with Cuban jazz pianist Bebo Valdés, which brought him international acclaim for its easy fusion of Cuban rhythms and flamenco vocals. Two years later, his next album, Picasso en Mis Ojos, won the 2006 Latin GRAMMY for Best Flamenco Album. 2009’s album of re-envisionedboleros, ballads and tangos, Dos Lágrimas, was recorded with all-star musicians in Spain and Cuba and featured three charting singles: “Dos Gardenias”’ “Maria de la O” and “Historia de un Amor”. El Cigala then traveled to Argentina to record the Argentinian tango album Cigala & Tango, which went gold after being initially released only in Spain, Argentino and Columbia, eventually earning the 2010 Latin GRAMMY for Best Tango Album. Despite an active touring schedule, his next album, Romance de La Luna Tucumana, a boundary-pushing blend of classic Adalusian folk song, tango and rock, which featured Diego Garcia on guitar, brought home another Latin GRAMMY for Best Tango Album. El Cigala’s latest and first salsa album, Indestrucitible, was recorded in Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, New York and Miami with a host of Cuban and salsa music legends. Released in October 2016, it is a tribute to El Cigala’s late wife Amparo, and to his mentor, the late, great Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés.

TITO ALLEN, who has been described as “El Elegante de la Salsa” (The Elegant One of Salsa) because of his smooth voice and polished salsa singing style, was born in the Santurce section of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Moving to New York City in his mid-twenties, he worked in a quartet with Columbian pianist Eddie Martínez before becoming the lead singer of Ray Barretto’s band in 1973. In 1976 he took over as lead vocalist of Típica 73 as well as recording with the Puerto Rican All Stars (1977), Tito Puente (1979) and Conjunto Clásico (1981). He continues to tour and record as a coro singer.

JOHN “DANDY” RODRIGUEZ ia a Latin percussionist from New York City who got his professional break at age 17 when he earned a position playing bongos with the Tito Puente Orchestra, while also working with Tito Rodriguez(1965-68) and Ray Barretto (1970-72). Leaving Puente in 1972 to form Típica 73. Rodriguez returned to Tito Puente’s Orchestra in 1979 and performed with him until Tito’s death in 2000, at which point he formed the Latin Giants of Jazzwith Jose Madera and Mitch Frohman to carry on Tito’s legacy. Notably, Rodriguez has also performed and recorded with the Mambo Legends Orchestra, Victor Manuelle, Eddie Palmieri and Manhattan Transfer.

JIMMY BOSCH, “El Trombon Criollo”, is a salsa trombonist, composer and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent that was born in Jersey City, NJ. While studying music at Rutgers University, he met Manny Uquendo and joined his influential salsa band Manny Uquendo Y Libre, where he has worked on and off for over 20 years. Bosch worked withRay Barretto in the 80s and 90s. He joined Isreal Cachao’s band in 1987 and also recorded and toured with Cachoa for over 20 years. In 1996, he formed his own band, La Orquesta Jimmy Bosch, and has recorded four albums. He has also recorded and/or performed with many of the Latin music greats, including Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades,Mark Anthony, Celia Cruz and La India.

RICKY GONZALEZ is a Dominican Republic-born pianist, singer, vibraphonist, percussionist, bassist, composer and arranger that has worked regularly with the top talent in Latin music and jazz. Moving to New York City to study at the Julliard School, Gonzalez had his professional break when he joined Ray Barretto’s Orchestra in 1983 as pianist. Of the five albums he recorded with Barretto, he earned GRAMMY nominations as the arranger for two of them. Gonzalez has also worked with George Benson, Dizzy Gillespie, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, Machito,Dave Valentin and many more Latin music greats.

JIMMY DELGADO is a New York based timbalero, bongo and conga player of Puerto Rican descent. He started his professional career in 1974, working with Orchestra Cimarron, Tipica Novel and Pupi Legarreta. He joined Ray Barretto’s band for 9 months in 1976, and rejoined it for five and a half years in 1983. In 1977 he started playing bongos and eventually timbale for Willie Colon. He has also toured with Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente and Harry Belafonte.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. The 2016-2017 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding is provided by Con Edison, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Rudin Foundation, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, and the friends of Lehman Center.

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