Come on everybody and do the conga at the Cuban Jam.
Musicians from the Cuban music scene join forces at New York City’s Town Hall Theater at 123 West 43 St., for a night of salsa, mambo, guarachas, rumbas and cha-cha-chas. This year’s event is produced and directed by the legendary Latin-American entertainment producer Armando Lopez, who has lived in Jersey City for the past five years.
The show, to run later this month, will feature Jose Fajardo, Israel Kantor, David Oquendo, Alberto Morgan, the Tropicana Jazz Band, and Maggie Carles.
Throughout the night, special awards will be given to three-time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera, the master trumpet player Chocolate Armenteros and the concert’s musical director, Juan Pablo Torres.
“It’s a beautiful show, great orchestra, great musicians,” Lopez said last week. “Cuban Jam is a musical journey through the rhythms that have made the world dance.”
Carles, one of the headliners, will sing tunes she has prepared for the show like, “Mama Ines,” “Siboney,” “Yo Soy el Punto Cubano,” and “New York, New York.”
Cuban country music will be represented during the show with bands like Guateque Cubano, and the Marquez Sisters, Lopez said. And, guaguanco group Raices Habaneras will showcase their own blend of drums and rhythm.
In 1998, Lopez produced the first Cuban Jam at Town Hall to a sold-out audience. He plans to do the same thing this year, he said.
“The 2001 concert features the likes of Maggie Carles so it will be very good,” Lopez said. “I would like to see a lot of people come from New York.”
The show will be held May 26 at 8 p.m. For ticket information, the telephone number is (201) 507-8900 or (212) 307-4100. Or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.