Ellington

You're sure to feel compelled to dance upon hearing Latinismo's vibrant, pulsating tunes. Combining traditional Latin music—like salsa and merengue—with rock and jazz, the band surges forward with the bold vitality that has made Latin music and dance popular in recent years.

This cadre of 12 seasoned professionals, lead by percussionist/lead vocalist Cucho Gonzalez, includes multiple trombones, saxophones and a trumpet.

Latinismo augments the standard big-band setup with a powerful, dense rhythm section. Syncopating bongos, congas, timbales and standard drums coalesce into a kinesthetic call to action, one that makes it easy to see where the fancy footwork of Latin dance originated. Squalling brass and fuzzed out guitar riffs burst through the rhythmic density, creating a lush and captivating act that is sure to have you on your feet. Whether or not you can keep up with them once you get started is another story.

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