July 18, 2010 - Plena Libre, the four-time Grammy-nominated Puerto Rican ensemble delivering the island’s traditional sounds bomba y plena to the world, performed at MacArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion yesterday as part of the Levitt’s 50 Summer Concerts Series 2010.
Even in LA’s current 90+ degree weather, it took a while for the crowd to warm up to Plena Libre’s rhythms. With an attendance composed in its majority by people from Mexico and Central America, the music was familiar only to the few Puerto Ricans and tropical music lovers sprinkled within the crowd.
But it didn’t take long – in fact, only an impromptu dance class given by the Plena Libre’s singers themselves: “One is the left foot out. Two is the left foot in. Three is the right foot out. Four is the right foot in,” they repeated as they pressed the audience to stand up and step along. By the end of the night, even a conga line was formed!
Plena Libre performed in Oregon on Friday and was due at the airport just a few hours after this performance Saturday in LA - Puerto Rico bound. However, they will be back in the States in just a few days to complete a summer tour that will end in New York City on August 1.
It was a treat for our city to host such a great band in a concert open to public of all ages and requesting no entrance fee. And just like this one, the McArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion will host concerts Thursdays through Sundays until September 12, with artists that include Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca on July 23, Ritmo Caliente on August 20, the B-Side Players on September 4, and much more. (See entire concert schedule here.)
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