Ray Santos News

Created in 2009 and led by distinguished trumpeter, jazz historian, and music educator, Steven Oquendo, The Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra (SOLJO) is a force to be reckoned with. This bold big band is made up of 19 superbly talented guardians of Latin music.

THE DJANGO will bring another month of stellar jazz by some of the field’s heroes alongside young, emerging artists.

Rhode Island's oldest community theater, The Community Players, currently celebrating their 100th season, will hold auditions for their spring musical Mamma Mia! on Sunday, January 30 from 1-4pm and 6-9pm with callbacks on Thursday, February 3 from 6-9pm at Jenks Auditorium, 350 Division Street, Pawtucket, RI, (across from McCoy Stadium). Sign-in will begin at 12:30 pm and 5:30pm.

Vocalist and performer Anita Michael returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre with her new show 'I'm a Certified Senior Citizen' on Thursday, April 2, 2020, Friday, April 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 1:00 pm. The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe is located at 407 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. There is a $20 cover and $20 food/beverage minimum per person. Tickets may be purchased on line at: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10504599

On Saturday, November 2, Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) continues its Jazz Masters music series with the Willie Martinez Latin Jazz Quartet. Martinez, an accomplished drummer, percussionist, arranger/composer and vocalist, will be joined by Nicki Denner on piano/vocals, Bernie Minoso on bass, and Anton Denner on reeds and flute. The group will perform two sets at 7:30 and 9 pm at WCT, 23 Water Street in Ossining.

It's the most wonderful time of year! The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and music director Marcus Printup continue a beloved annual tradition with Big Band Holidays. Featuring soulful, big band versions of classics like a?oeJingle Bells,a?? a?oeJoy to the World,a?? and a?oeBrazilian Sleigh Ride,a?? Big Band Holidays is an uplifting holiday program that plays to sold-out audiences around the country every December.

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture opens its 2019 Fall Season with a?oeA Salute to Richie Bonilla,a?? the long-time Latin Music Artist Manager, with a selection of artists he managed paying tribute in a star-studded concert on Saturday, October 12th at 7:30 PM in the Main Theater. There will be performances by the Puerto Rican singer/ songwriter and former Fania All-Star Ismael Miranda, singer Joe Bataan a?oeThe King of Latin Soul,a?? the Grammy Winning Cuban vocalist Albita, former Tito Puente vocalist Frankie Morales, timbalero Orlando Marin, known as a?oethe last Mambo King,a?? the highly energetic instrumental & vocal duo Los Hermanos Moreno, virtuoso flutist Connie Grossman and the Steven Oquendo Mambo Orchestra. Noted broadcaster Felipe Luciano will serve as Master of Ceremonies. A dance follows at 9:30 PM in the Hostos Café with DJ Brian Martínez spinning Salsa favorites.

Modeled after the highly acclaimed retrospective of Tito Puente in 2017, the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will honor the late iconic singer and bandleader Francisco Machito Grillo (1908-1984) and his Orchestra (the Afro-Cubans) in a 3-day celebration May 2-4 on the campus of Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street), in the Bronx. Machito & the Impact of the Afro-Cubans at 80 examines the Orchestra's influence on a variety of Latin musical styles, including Latin jazz that affected the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Stan Kenton and others.

Modeled after the highly acclaimed retrospective of Tito Puente in 2017, the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will honor the late iconic singer and bandleader Francisco Machito Grillo (1908-1984) and his Orchestra (the Afro-Cubans) in a 3-day celebration May 2-4 on the campus of Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street), in the Bronx. Machito & the Impact of the Afro-Cubans at 80 examines the Orchestra's influence on a variety of Latin musical styles, including Latin jazz that affected the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Stan Kenton and others.

Modeled after the highly acclaimed retrospective of Tito Puente in 2017, the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will honor the late iconic singer and bandleader Francisco Machito Grillo (1908-1984) and his Orchestra (the Afro-Cubans) in a 3-day celebration May 2-4 on the campus of Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th Street), in the Bronx. Machito & the Impact of the Afro-Cubans at 80 examines the Orchestra's influence on a variety of Latin musical styles, including Latin jazz that affected the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Stan Kenton and others.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents the multiple Grammy Award-winning Cuban/American singer Jon Secada on Friday, May 3 at 8pm. Ticket prices range between $25 - $55, plus applicable fees. Purchase online, by phone or at the box office. For more information, visit PatchogueTheatre.org, call the Patchogue Theatre Box Office at 631-207-1313, or stop by 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

By popular demand, the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture brings back its 'Mambo Memories' concert, a tribute to the Palladium Ballroom era of the 1950s with a performance featuring a wide array of singers and dancers on Saturday, April 21st, 7:30 PM in the Main Theater at the Hostos Center, Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, in the Bronx. A dance follows at 9:30 PM in the Hostos Cafe with Salsa Warrior DJ Roy spinning mambo favorites.

The world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) is a 15-piece musical group consisting of some of the best ensemble players, soloists and arrangers in jazz music, and led by famed trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis. Their show contains a wide variety of musical works, including original and historic compositions, Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned pieces and masterworks from celebrated musicians such as Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams and Charles Mingus.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) comprises 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. The orchestra makes a return to the Marcus Center's Uihlein Hall on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30 pm.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in the World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis's The Jungle (Symphony No. 4), commissioned by the Philharmonic as the first of The New York Commissions, with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; William Bolcom's Trombone Concerto with Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi as soloist; and Copland's Quiet City, featuring Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin and English horn player Grace Shryock in her Philharmonic solo debut.

Prospect Theater Company (under the leadership of Artistic Director Cara Reichel and Managing Director Melissa Huber), will be presenting a developmental reading of the new musical Marco Polo by Deborah Abramson (music) and Peter Mills (book and lyrics), on Monday, October 5.

Like never before, the world-renowned 16th Annual Vancouver International Tap Festival is showcasing the fullness of a living, exciting, vital art taking place from Aug. 27 - 30, 2015. Tap dancing - from its deep musical roots and brilliant contemporary blossoming - explored and experienced from new perspectives and levels of excellence, includes two Canadian premieres of globally recognized and celebrated artists.

The multi-Grammy-nominated Manhattan School of Music AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA, conducted by Bobby Sanabria, pays tribute to LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO (PUERTO RICO) with works by Rafael Hernandez, Bobby Capo, Juan Tizol, Ricardo Pons, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Santos' monumental Puerto Rican Suite, and more! Special Guests will include members of Danza Fiesta and noted poet/performer Mariposa Fernandez.

The multi-Grammy-nominated Manhattan School of Music AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA, conducted by Bobby Sanabria, pays tribute to LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO (PUERTO RICO) with works by Rafael Hernandez, Bobby Capo, Juan Tizol, Ricardo Pons, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Santos' monumental Puerto Rican Suite, and more! Special Guests will include members of Danza Fiesta and noted poet/performer Mariposa Fernandez.