Autry Center announces summer concert series

Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.667.2000, www.theAutry.org

The Autry National Center presents the 2011 Sizzling Summer Nights with new bands and living legends of the salsa music scene. This popular outdoor dance party for all ages features L.A.’s best salsa bands, hot-off-the-grill food, ice-cold drinks and spirits, open museum galleries, a separate children’s dance floor, dance lessons, and more.

See top Latin bands in a fun, casual, energetic setting on the Autry plaza. The stellar lineup of bands brings high-energy music that is fun for dancers. Salsa instructor Trish Connery, of Dance Chatter, will show visitors basic dance moves to get them out of their seats and onto the dance floor. Bands include veterans of the L.A. and New York salsa scenes including Yari Moré, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Chino Espinoza, Conjunto Costazul, Oscar Hernández and the L.A. All-Stars, and other greats. The taco and drink bar opens at 6:00 p.m., and the museum and the Autry Store both stay open until 8:00 p.m.

“The Autry’s Sizzling Summer Nights is all about enjoying wonderful music with friends and family. Every time I’ve been there I've witnessed a great mix of people, young and old, enjoying the great atmosphere and moving to the beat of great music,” said Oscar Hernández, musician and bandleader of Oscar Hernández and the L.A. All-Stars, who will perform on the Autry stage for the first time this year.

For more information about Sizzling Summer Nights, visit the Autry’s website at www.TheAutry.org or the Sizzling Summer Nights page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SizzlingSummerNights.

Admission:
Autry Members: FreeAdults: $10 Students with current ID and Seniors 60+: $6 Children (3–12): $4Children under 3: FreePurchase membership on-site and enjoy all nine Sizzling Summer Nights for free!

2011 Sizzling Summer Nights Line-Up

July 7, 2011
Octavio Figueroa and La Combinación Salsa Band
Since moving to Los Angeles in ’80s, Octavio Figueroa has become a well-known figure in the local Latin-salsa music scene. After leading the prestigious La Sorpresa Salsa Orchestra, he formed La Combinación with Peruvian sonero Willy Cadenas. The group now performs at Los Angeles’s top salsa venues such as the Conga Room, the Century Club, and the Rumba Club.

July 14, 2011
Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad
Johnny Polanco is one of the most sought-after band leaders in the U.S. He has gained this distinction for making the type of contagious Latin music that is truly appreciated by salsa dancers worldwide. Empowered by the extensive knowledge he has accumulated throughout nearly 35 years of professional musicianship, the leader of L.A.’s Conjunto Amistad is an autodidactic artist who has achieved a high degree of skill on 13 instruments, including the tres and cuatro guitars, trombone, and vibes.


July 21, 2011
Orquesta Son Mayor
Orquesta Son Mayor features 12 of L.A.'s hottest Latin musicians playing a mixture of vintage Latin and contemporary Cuban styles. The band was begun in 1988 by the Ortiz brothers. From humble beginnings, this musical family has made Son Mayor one of L.A.'s most sought-after salsa bands, opening for and playing alongside such greats as Chucho Valdez at the Hollywood Bowl, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Los Van Van, Sonora Ponceña, Oscar D’León, El Canario, Ozomatli, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.


July 28, 2011
Yari Moré y su Orquesta
Known as the “romantic of salsa,” and a veteran of the global salsa scene, Yari Moré will sweep you off your feet with his smooth voice and high-energy orchestra. He earned respect singing in Ecuador and El Salvador with various bands. After moving to the United States to expand his résumé, he began winning competitions such as the OTI song festival for three consecutive years, and won national recognition by winning Star Search.


August 4, 2011
Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca
Ricardo Lemvo has established himself as a pioneer with his innovative music. Lemvo’s blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms with pan-African styles (soukous, Angolan semba, and kizomba) has been described by the Los Angeles Times as “seamless and infectious.” Since forming his Los Angeles–based band Makina Loca in 1990, Lemvo has refined his craft and vision, raising his joyous voice with strength, singing songs that celebrate life, and most importantly, inspiring his audiences to let loose and dance away their worries.


August 11, 2011
Susie Hansen Latin Band
A longtime favorite in Los Angeles, Susie and her band play more than 150 live performances every year. Their music appeals to audiences of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds. They play familiar and traditional salsa in Spanish, many original salsa and Latin jazz compositions, Latin-style interpretations of American jazz standards, tipico Cuban charanga music, and great salsa and cha-cha in English. The salsa vocals are authentic and improvisational. This band is truly a crowd pleaser with its rhythmic energy and drive.

August 18, 2011
Chino Espinoza
Vocalist Mirley Espinoza, also known as "Chino El Sonero” by his fellow musicians, joined the Opa Opa International Orchestra in 1990 and went on to record his first CD for Warner Brothers in 1995. Chino then took advantage of the many offers he received to become a member of other top musical groups, including the Malibu Salsa All Stars, the L.A. Jazz All-Stars, the RMM All-Stars Band and the Tito Puente with Eddie Palmieri Tribute Orchestra. Chino currently resides in Los Angeles and together with Dimelo! Records has assembled a new big-band salsa orchestra named “Los Dueños del Son.”


August 25, 2011
Oscar Hernández and the L.A. All-Stars
Oscar Hernández, head of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a Grammy Award–winning band, has long been considered one of the most gifted and prominent pianists/arrangers on the contemporary Latin, Latin-jazz, and salsa music scene. Increasingly in demand as a pianist, arranger, and producer, the Bronx native has produced such artists as Ruben Blades/Willie Colón ’“Carabali,” Daniel Ponce, Rafael Dejesus, Eddie Torres, Phil Hernandez, and Steve Kroon. Hernández has enjoyed a prolific musical career recording and performing with such world- renowned artists as Latin music king Tito Puente, “Queen of Salsa Music” Celia Cruz, and Latin pop star Julio Iglesias.

September 1, 2011
Conjunto Costazul
Conjunto Costazul is considered one of the finest salsa orchestras in Southern California. It is a quintessential salsa ensemble which for over 20 year has set itself apart from all other bands. With its energetic New York style and sound, driven by four melodic trombones and an exceptional rhythm section, the orchestra is led by brothers Freddie and Johnny Crespo on vocals and percussion. In 2010, Conjunto Costazul celebrated its 21st anniversary, moving forward with its unique, swinging sounds and continuing to delight new generations of salseros.