The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet is one of New York City’s top Peruvian jazz bands.
Rufino Ortiz, Freddy “Huevito” Lobaton & Yuri Juarez
August 16, 2020, Sunday at 4pm ~ Alegría curates a concert from home (The Bronx) with Rufino Ortiz, one of the great Afro-Peruvian guitarists, renowned cajón player Freddy “Huevito” Lobaton and second guitar Yuri Juarez. Tickets from $18 at eventbrite.com
Hope they play “Toro Mata.”
Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet
Alegria founded the band in 2005. All the players are not just great musicians, they are teaching artists as well.
If you get to know this band, you will probably end up hanging out with them, because that’s how we are. When we celebrate, it’s as families and extended families. There is always food and drink and drumming, singing and dancing.
The band also leads annual tours to Peru. That would be a great way to see the country.
When you think of Peru, you think of Incas in the Andes, but there were slave plantations along the southern coastal region. This is where we get the Afro-Peruvian mix.
Like everywhere, Afro-Peruvians suffer from racism and discrimination. Since the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s, there has been a resurgence of pride in our African heritage.
The Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet joins Grupo Cumananá, and Latin Grammy winner Susana Baca in this renaissance of Afro-Peruvian culture.
Zinc Bar
Friday, March 27, 2020 ~ The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet plays Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village, NYC at 8pm & 10pm.
Tickets at the door and zincjazz.com
Mardi Gras Celebration
Tuesday, February 25, 2020 ~ Celebrate Mardi Gras with a tribute to Count Basie featuring the New Jersey City University Jazz Orchestra with a second line of the NJCU N.O. Brass Band, directed by Gabriel Alegría.
Big band jazz in a tiny little club is coooool.
$20 tickets at the door and zincjazz.com
