Plena Libre (Free Plena) is a multiple Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated, contemporary plena band that is renewing Puerto Rican folk traditions for new generations. They are one of the world’s leading plena groups.
Plena Libre in New York City
NoHo, Manhattan
Plena Libre plays contemporary Puerto Rican plena from their new album “Cuatro Esquinas,” and remembers founder Gary Nunez (1952-2023); at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NoHo, Manhattan; on Saturday-Sunday, August 3-4, 2024 at 7pm Saturday (6pm doors), and 6pm Sunday (5:30pm doors); From $25+fees. 🇵🇷
The only bad thing about seeing Plena Libre in New York City is that they will make you miss Puerto Rico so much, it hurts. The picture on the About Us page on their website is the band at La Esquina Watusi on Calle Cera, in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. So many memories. plenalibre.com
New York City Venues
These are some of the venues they have played lately.
- Carnegie Hall Citywide
- Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NoHo, Manhattan
- Riverbank State Park
- SOB’s Sounds of Brazil in Hudson Square, Manhattan
- World Music Institute
Plena Libre
The band blends traditional Puerto Rican plena rhythms with modern Afro-Caribbean influences in their contemporary compositions. They mix a hard-hitting horn section, master hand drummers, and lush vocal harmonies into a modern blend.
The band plays some bomba and música jíbara folk music too, but mostly plena. They’ve toured the world from Morocco to California and everywhere in between, and recorded with some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Eddie Palmieri, Papo Lucca (La Sonora Ponceña), and Nestor Torres.
Over the course of a 30-year, 15-album career, bandleader Gary Nuñez and his orchestra have revived the once-dormant plena sound for a new generation, electrifying audiences with a dazzling spectacle of horns, drums, and dance.
[Editor “Kíko” Keith: Former lead singer Emanuel Santana was my plena teacher at La Goyco in Santurce which plena legend Tito Matos built. “Tintorera del mar…”]
Band Members in 2024
Bassist and producer Gary Nuñez founded the group in 1994. He passed away in October 2023.
- Bassist Luisga Nuñez sings and plays percussion.
- Composer Victor Vélez sings and plays hand drums.
- Drummer Rafel “Rafy” Falu plays requinto, the lead hand drum.
- Singer Miguel De Jesús sings and plays cuatro (Puerto Rican guitar).
- Composer Alex López “Callejero” plays hand drums.
Plena Libre Albums
The band has released over 15 albums and earned four Grammy Award nominations.
“Mas Libre” (2001) earned a Latin Grammy nomination for “Best Tropical Traditional Album.”
“Mi Ritmo” (2003) was nominated for a Grammy and Latin Grammy as “Best Tropical Traditional Album.”
“Evolucion” (2006) was nominated for a Latin Grammy for “Best Tropical Traditional Album.”
“Cuatro Esquinas” (2023) is the last album with founder Gary Nuñez. It’s a clever title. Plena Libre is taking Puerto Rican plena to the four corners of the world, and plena in Puerto Rico is done on the street where the Latin world lives.
More Information
Original coverage was sponsored by the World Music Institute and Carnegie Hall. Thank you!
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