The Hamilton College Performing Arts Series continues its Contemporary Voices and Visions series on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. with a jazz concert by Albany-based Alex Torres and the Latin Kings at Wellin Hall in the Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts. As part of this engagement, there will be a free Latin percussion demonstration on Friday, Oct. 31, at noon in the Fillius Events Barn.
Grammy Award nominated Alex Torres and the Latin Kings excite their audiences with original molten-hot Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, and Latin jazz from their Afro-Cuban repertoire. The 12-piece band fills the room with intricate rhythms, horns, and dynamic vocals. The band includes trumpets, saxophone, trombone, congas, bongos, drum kit, piano, bass, percussion and vocals. Their performances emanate energy and combine technical mastery with the dynamic sound of a Puerto Rican street festival.
Led by Bronx-born bassist Alex Torres, the Latin Kings formed 23 years ago in Amsterdam, N.Y. Since that time, they have produced five recordings and performed at hundreds of festivals, performing arts centers and other events. They have been the recipients of numerous awards including the New England Cultural Arts Preservation Award, the Governor's Excellence in Arts Award (New York State) and the NAACP Chapter Award. They performed for President Bill and Hillary Clinton at the New York State Democratic Convention and for Gov. George Pataki's Inauguration.
In addition to an evening performance on Nov. 1, Alex Torres and the Latin Kings will present a free percussion workshop on Friday, Oct. 31, at noon in the Fillius Events Barn, where members of the percussion section will showcase and explain the instruments, rhythms and perhaps some of the dance styles associated with Latin music.
Tickets for this concert are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. All seating is general admission. Group discounts are available and dancing will be permitted on the upper level. For more information or to reserve tickets please call the box office at 859-4331 to leave a message.
