NEW YORK — City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) is marking the 60-year history of the legendary, Cuban charanga band Orquesta Broadway on Friday, March 24 at Aaron Davis Hall’s Marian Anderson Theatre, with a special concert featuring multi-award-winning flutist and educator Connie Grossman and esteemed flutist Karen Joseph. Award-winning radio host and Latin music historian Nelson Radhames Rodriguez serves as producer and emcee of the show, which starts at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Tickets are available at citycollegecenterforthearts.org.
Charanga is a term for a popular style of Cuban dance music — or the orchestras who play it — featuring violins, flutes, and various percussion instruments, together with vocalists. Founded in 1963, Orquesta Broadway is one of the oldest charangas, known the world over for its pulsing performances of the Afro-Cuban art form.
“Over the years, City College Center for the Arts has hosted numerous outstanding milestones in the Latin music industry, and I can’t imagine this celebration being elsewhere. Orquesta Broadway’s hypnotic Cuban charanga sound is sure to bring everyone to their feet,” said CCCA Managing Director Gregory Shanck.
“Rhythmic and poetic, the sound of a legendary orchestra preserving the tradition of the Cuban Charanga style. The smooth harmonies of the flute and violins make you dance and move like a feather caught in the wind. Traditional Cuban style persists under the direction of El Maestro Eddy Zervigon, who for more than 60 years has been the leader of the mother of all charangas outside of the island, La Orquesta Broadway,”said Rodriguez.
Orquesta Broadway members include: Eddy Zervigon (director and flute), Ivan Zervigon (American drums), Pablo Mayor (piano), Berny Minoso (bass), Luis Mangual (congas), James Guevara (timbales), David Remedi (violin), Yunior Terry (violin), Hector Aponte (singer); Jorge Maldonado (singer) and Luis Rosa (singer).
The Marian Anderson Theatre is named after the distinguished African American singer who broke racial barriers and inspired new generations of singers of all backgrounds.
