Be ready to move during this fiery night of Latin rhythms led by trumpeter Jesús Alémañy and his band ¡CUBANISMO!

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Ricardo Lemvo Photo: Courtesy of the Artist

Promotional Partner

Led by trumpeter Jesús Alemañy, the sizzling dance band ¡CUBANISMO! approaches Cuban music with both a reverence for tradition and an outward-reaching flare, punctuating every performance with a “rhythmic kick and a sense of adventure.” (AllMusic) The group’s founding was fortuitous timing: Alemañy, a prodigy who attended Havana’s Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan and joined the great son group Sierra Maestra at 15, had moved to London where he connected with the British producer and founder of Hannibal Records, Joe Boyd. With Boyd’s encouragement, Alemañy returned to Havana to organize an all-star jam session to be recorded; the result was the 1996 self-titled debut, an extraordinary album that caught the collective imagination at a moment when Cuban music was finding a new level of global popularity. Through multiple world tours, lineup changes, and subsequent records, ¡Cubanismo! has remained one of the most popular and exciting standard bearers of their country’s music — “a modern, younger Buena Vista Social Club.” (AllMusic)

Born in Congo of Angolan descent and now based in Los Angeles, the singer and bandleader RICARDO LEMVO and his sensational band MAKINA LOCA play a fiery concoction of soukous, kizomba, samba, and salsa “a blend of Cuban and Central African traditions that is seamless and organic—and infectious.” (LA Times) The special show includes key members of Lemvo’s band Makina Loca – alongside a number of performers from Tabu Ley Rochereau’s legendary Congolese band l’Orchestre Afrisa International; including Huit Kilos Nseka (lead guitar), Wawali Bonane and Dodo Munoko (vocals), Modero Mekanisi (sax), Ngouma Lokito (bass) and Parigo Asuka (drums).

Friends Member Seating & Tent Access

Friends Seating: Rear seats open to Seat-Pass and Tent-Pass members

Friends Tent: Open to Tent-Pass members

Sponsor Tent: Open to Tent-Pass members

Venue Information:

The BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is one of New York City's longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals and is held every summer at the Prospect Park Bandshell. View seating arrangements here.

All Performances Rain or Shine. In the event of dangerous weather we will be communicating updates on our website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Doors open one hour prior to performance unless otherwise noted.