Mambo-Salsa Dance on Stage November 1 

SALISBURY, MD -- Grupo Caribe, led by pianist Sergio Rivera, performs a Mambo-Salsa dance music concert on Wednesday, November 1, at 7 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium at Salisbury State University. Sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Council and the Office of Multiethnic Student Services at Salisbury State University, the concert is free and open to the public.

The band is an eight-member musical ensemble bringing to life songs made popular by Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Machito, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Rivera, Raphael Cortijo and Los Van Van. Included in the band’s repertoire are big band Mambos, Cha Cha Cha, Son Montunos, Bomba and Plena, Boleros, Merengue and Latin jazz.

The group’s new CD, Son De Melasa, includes seven songs with various styles representative of Caribbean musical essence while incorporating sounds from the band members’ New York experience.

Max Salazar, who has written about New York’s Latin music world for the past 32 years, wrote, "It is albums like (Son De Melasa) that I like to hear whenever I visit a dance hall or a house party. The musicians performing ‘Mambo Celeste,’ all cracker-jack solists, evoked reminders of a Tito Puente jam session. ‘Mambo Celeste’ is one of the swingingest Latin jazz recordings I’ve heard during the last 50 years."

The Haitian Times wrote, "Expect lots of solos, including Sergio’s hypnotic keyboard patterns bouncing off the bass and propelling the sound. Grupo Caribe reflects all that came before them coupled with their own special vision, while never losing sight of the fact that the people want to dance."

For more information about the concert, please call the SSU Public Relations Office at 410-543-6030.