Adelante! Move Latin and Jazz Music Forward at Barron Arts Center

If you’re a fan of Latin or jazz music, the Barron Arts Center has just the concert for you this week.

, an eight-piece band combining Latin rhythms with traditional jazz influences, will be playing outdoors at the Barron Arts Center Thursday evening as part of the Latin Fusion: Jersey Style Concert Series.  The show starts at 8 PM and is free (though a $5 donation is suggested).  Reservations are not required, and in the event of inclement weather, the show will be held indoors and seating will be first-come, first-served.

Adelante! Features jazz musician Mike Kaplan as band leader, arranger, and tenor saxophone, with Grammy-winner David Oquendo (for the album Tropicana’s Nights with Pacquito D’Rivera) serving of sonero (lead singer) and contributing guitar and percussion work.  The band’s music incorporates both traditional and modern Latin forms, combined with the creativity and improvisational nature of jazz.

The group also features a three-man horn section of Kaplan, Rob Henke on trumpet, and Ben Williams on trombone.

The group is known for combining and modernizing it’s Latin and jazz influences – from updating traditional Latin songs such as “Bilongo” to incorporating material by jazz legends Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as original compositions by band members.