The arrival of spring isn’t the only thing bringing heat to Penrith this month with the flair and raw energy of Cuba geared to take over the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on September 11 for a ‘Salsa Sunday’.
Renowned Latin dance band Armandito & Trovason are bringing the fiery rhythms and infectious sounds of traditional Cuban music centre stage, assured to shake the hips of dancers and the foundations of the Q Theatre.
It’s headed by Cuban music star, Armando Garcia Perez, aka ‘Armandito’, who has shared the stage with the likes of Company Segundo, Eliades Ochoa (Buena Vista Social Club) and Wynton Marsalis.
Hailing from Santiago de Cuba, Armandito tore into Sydney’s music scene in 2002 with his trademark explosive Cuban sounds. Since then, Armandito has been at the forefront of contemporary Latin music, packing out dance floors the country over.
A graduate of Santiago de Cuba’s Estavan Salas Conservatorium of Music, he majored in trumpet and musical arrangement.
Graduation saw him join the Palacious de Los Pioneres Big Band, completely immersing himself in Afro Cuban sound and playing at Carnival.
Sonora La Calle was the first big band Armandito toured Europe with – drawing the eyes of the world on him, and from then on Armandito has garnered international repute for intense dance nights, from Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scotts in London to the Sydney Opera House and Auckland Entertainment Centre.
2006 saw Armandito conceive Armandito & Trovason – a six-piece high-energy band characterised by their sound of blending traditional Cuban music such as Son, Rumba, Conga, Bolero Mambo and Salsa with cool improvisation.
The combination is fresh, exuberant and sensual, guaranteed to have you tearing up the dance floor.
The band features Armando Garcia on vocals and trumpet; Juan Carlos Rios – vocals and guitar; Martin Taylor – bass; Arnie Hannas – tres Cubano; Aykho Akhrif – congas; and Emilano Vergara on bongo.
Armandito & Trovason have performed at the Darling Harbour Fiesta, the Sydney Latin Film Festival, Seymour Centre, the Havana Club at the 2010 Brisbane Festival and now The Joan.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see the most dynamic Cuban act around this Sunday, September 11 at 3pm, at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $29 for adults, $25 for concession and $22 for Café Carnivale members.
To book or for more information call 4723 7600 or visit www.jspac.com.au.
