After a two-year hiatus, Noche Latina returns to Hoffman Auditorium at University of Saint Joseph on Friday, October 7. This year’s Noche Cubana is presented by the Art Museum in conjunction with its fall survey of works by Cuban-born contemporary artist Gladys Triana.
Noche Cubana kicks off at 7:00 p.m. in Bruyette Athenaeum’s Hoffman Auditorium, as Ed Fast and Conga Bop present Rumbafied!, an Afro-Cuban-inspired jazz, dance, and drum celebration. Known for their creative fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and American jazz, in Rumbafied! Ed Fast and Conga Bop meld Rumba, the Afro-Cuban-based dance, percussion and song traditions that originated in the northern regions of Cuba in the late nineteenth century, with modern American and international music. The program includes new arrangements from the jazz, Broadway, and pop genres that have been “Rumbafied” through the infusion of Afro-Cuban instruments and dance rhythms.
Featured artists include:
Cynthia Soriano, New York city-based vocalist extraordinaire
Steve Davis, Grammy-winning international jazz artist.
Chantal Edwards, charismatic dancer
with Special Guest Artist:
Papo Pepin, legendary Latin percussion virtuoso
Tickets are $15 for advance-purchase, general seating, and $20 (cash only) at the door. For tickets visit www.showpass.com/nochecubana. Hoffman Auditorium is located in Bruyette Athenaeum on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph at 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT.
This event will be preceded by a reception with light refreshments, beginning at 6 p.m.
About the Performers:
Drummer and band leader Ed Fast has performed across the U.S. and has crisscrossed the globe in productions with stars including Aretha Franklin, Chita Rivera, Charo, and many others. Conga Bop is a supergroup coalition of top artists in jazz, drumming, and dance who come together to produce a unique and powerful voice. Master Percussionist Papo Pepin has been playing congas since childhood. He has performed and recorded with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Mark Anthony and many others and is acknowledged as one of the greatest congeros. Vocalist Cynthia Soriano has graced the stages of premier jazz festivals and is known for her rich tone and impeccable phrasing. Steve Davis, jazz trombonist, has recorded with Chick Corea, Horace Silver, and many others. His most recent album Bluesthetic reached number 1 on the jazz chart this summer. Chantal Edwards has been a dancer for 18 years. She performs Caribbean dance across Connecticut.
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The Art Museum at the University of Saint Joseph, an AAM accredited institution, is located in Bruyette Athenaeum on the University’s main campus at 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford. The Museum presents regular exhibitions drawn from its permanent collections as well as loan exhibitions of historic art or of contemporary work by artists of national and international prominence. Public open hours are Wednesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.usj.edu/artmuseum.
The University of Saint Joseph is the premier small private university in Connecticut developing professionals for in-demand fields of health care, social services, education, and the sciences. A USJ degree is a proven credential for undergraduates seeking a traditional New England college setting with exceptional NCAA Division III athletics and a strong sense of community. For graduate students ready to learn more and earn more, USJ offers online, hybrid, and on-ground masters and doctoral programs with innovative modular curricula that attract students from around the world. To learn more, view our website at www.usj.edu.
Contact: Ann H. Sievers
Telephone: 860.231.5367
Email: asievers@usj.edu