Alexander Abreu and Havana D'Primera to Appear at Three Stages, 5/25-26

One of the most widely celebrated trumpet players, Alexander Abreu, and his Grammy-nominated band, Havana D'Primera, will make only their second tour of the US, stopping in at Three Stages as they wing across the country. It will be a Memorial Day Salsa Party, with limited space for dancing near Stage One.

"It's an honor to add to our 2012-13 season of performing arts such an esteemed band of jazz musicians," noted Dave Pier, Three Stages Executive Director. "They are, truly, one of 'Cuba's hottest bands.'"

Alexander Abreu and Havana D'Primera will be performing on Saturday, May 25, 2013, 8:00 pm and Sunday, May 26, 2013, 7:00 pm. Tickets are $19-$29 with Premium tickets available for $39. Students with ID's are $12. Tickets are available online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

Alexander Abreu is often compared to legends such as Louis Armstrong. Four years ago, he pulled together an ensemble of seasoned musicians - who played alongside some of the best bands of the golden age of contemporary Cuban salsa and timba - to form Havana D'Primera. Concerned with the decline of Afro-Cuban dance music on its home turf, Abreu decided to pick up the standard once carried around the globe by the very bands he had played with, such as Isaac Delgado and Paulito FG y Su Elite. Havana D'Primera is now considered today's top contemporary Cuban band. "Alexander has managed to combine the essence of Cuban music with sounds from other countries to create a style that is different, exciting and yet familiar" (Gabriel Wilder & Martin Karakas, Timba.com).

Havana D'Primera means "first-class musicians of Havana, Cuba." They have created the soundtrack to Cuban life over the last five years. Their first albumHacienda Historia quickly made Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera a favorite among Timba fans and gained crossover success in the Salsa world. Their latest album Pasaporte is currently a huge international hit.

Joining Abreu on this American tour is Amaury Pérez Rodríguez (Trombone), Robin Martínez Gálvez (Trumpet), Carlos Luis Álvarez Guerra (Trombonist), Orlando Jesús Vázquez (Trumpet), Rodney Illarza Barreto (Drummer & Tito Puente's Timbale Player), Guillermo del Toro Varela (Congas & Bongo), Miguel Ruiz García (Bongo &Tito Puente's Timbales Player), Cristóbal Verdecia Sardiñas (Baby Bass), Rogelio Nápoles (Guitar), Rolando Luna Carrillo (Piano), Jannier Rodríguez (Vocalist & Minor Percussion), Enrique Luis Pérez (Vocalist), Harold Díaz Escobar (Keyboard) and Gretchen López Paris (Violin & Cello).

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supportsproductions by FLC students and faculty.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is a $50 million performing and visual arts center that opened in February 2011. Located on the campus, Three Stages includes three intimate performance venues (850, 200, 100 seats), an art gallery, a recording studio, ample rehearsal and classroom space, a full service ticket office plus all the amenities of a state-of-the-art performance venue. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. A dashboard permit is provided with tickets for weekday events. Permits are not required for weekend events, including Fridays after 5 pm.

A renaming of Three Stages is currently under way. The new name, Harris Center for the Arts, honors Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the Capital Region, including providing the vision and leadership that led to the opening of this regional arts center.

Tickets are available online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time.