The Orange County Great Park Celebrates a Musical Tour of Latin America

The Orange County Great Park Celebrates a Musical Tour of Latin America

Come enjoy four exhilarating music and dance performances from Salsa to Samba at 'Flights and Sounds of Summer' dance and concert series

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Come take a musical tour of Latin America at the Orange County Great Park's "Flights and Sounds of Summer", dance and concert series, with music and artists from Cuba, Colombia, Chile and the United States. Come cha-cha-cha to the dynamic Cuban music of Nachito Herrera on Friday, August 7th at 7:30 p.m. Then August 15th, experience mixing infectious Caribbean rhythms featuring the lush romantic melodies of Toto La Momposina, the diva of Colombian music. On August 22nd, Francesca Gagnon "The Voice of Alegria," sings the beautiful music of Cirque Du Soleil with Chilean folk icons Inti-Illimani. Then, back by popular demand, come mambo with Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad our favorite salsero on Friday, September 11th. Admission is free. Parking is $8.00.

"It's exciting to celebrate the diverse cultures of Latin America with these four great events at the Great Park this summer," said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. "We invite everyone to come enjoy these performances that will bring everybody in Orange County together for truly great Latin music and dance at "Flights and Sounds of Summer" concert series."

Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera stunned Cuban audiences at the age of twelve, performing Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. According to All About Jazz, "Herrera's inventive arrangements and the expertise of his musicians produce a program that exudes an organic quality from start to finish. An in-demand bandleader, he has mastered a wide variety of danceable Latin music styles.

Toto La Momposina and her 10-piece band will croon infectious lush romantic songs with a Caribbean style. They are frequent headline attractions at music festivals worldwide but they rarely perform in California.

Francesca Gagnon "The Voice of Alegira with Inti-Illimani" is a special event created just for the Orange County Great Park. Francesca Gagnon, the voice of Cirque du Solell's long time hit "Alegria," sings the music of Cirque du Soleil with Chilean folk icons Inti-Illimani.

Johnny Polanco is one of the most sought-after bandleaders in the U.S. He has gained the distinction for making the type of contagious Latin Music that is truly appreciated by salsa dancers worldwide.

Hangar Cafe will feature a fresh selection of organic food available for purchase inside historic Hangar 244 to enjoy at the Cafe or on the picnic lawn.

The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine. For more information, go to www.ocgp.org.

The musical tour of Latin America music and dance schedule is listed below. (Please feel free to post. Photos are available on the performers hyperlinks below)

Nachito Herrera Latin
Friday Night Dance Party
August 7th at 8:00 p.m. free dance instruction at 7:30 pm

After tutelage by Ruben Gonzalez and other giants of the Buena Vista Social Club, Nachito Herrera toured America with the Afro-Cuban All-Stars and later as music director of Cubanismo. An in-demand bandleader, he has mastered a wide variety of danceable Latin music styles.

Toto la Momposina - Colombia
Saturday Night Concert
August 15th at 8:00 p.m.

Mixing infectious Caribbean rhythms with lush romantic melodies and great vocal style, Toto la Momposina and her 10-piece band are frequent headline attractions at music festivals worldwide but they rarely perform in California. Her Great Park appearance is one of only four engagements on the West Coast.

Francesca Gagnon, The Voice of Alegria with Inti-Illimani
Saturday Night Concert
August 22nd at 8:00 p.m.

A special event created just for the Great Park: Francesca Gagnon, the voice of Cirque du Soleil's longtime hit "Alegria" sings the music of Cirque du Soleil with Chilean folk icons Inti-Illimani. An inspired pairing: Gagnon's otherworldly vocals float above Inti's earthy, raw sound. In their four decades of music-making, Inti-Illimani has shared stages with Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Wynton Marsalis; Canadian born Francesca Gagnon has been charmed by the music of many cultures and she in turn charms us with her gorgeous voice.

Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad - Salsa
Friday Night Dance Party
September 11th, at 8:00 p.m., free dance instruction at 7:30 p.m.

So popular at the Great Park last summer that he was invited back immediately, Johnny Polanco is our favorite salsero, with regular gigs at El Floridita, The Mayan and other iconic Southland venues.

Source: Orange County Great Park

CONTACT: Jenn Starnes, +1-949-724-6574, for Orange County Great Park

Web Site: http://www.ocgp.org/

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