UPCOMING EVENTS
Lookie Lookie
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
Lookie Lookie is an eight piece band devoted to Latin Bugalu, a style pioneered by Puerto Rican musicians in New York in the 1960s. Fusing rhythm and blues and American pop into the Afro-Caribbean music matrix, such artists as Pete Rodriguez, Joe Cuba and Richie Ray topped the Latin charts in the US and Latin America. Joe Cuba even scored on the pop charts with “Bang Bang” and “Sock It To Me Baby.” Bugalú is the mother lode of fun, and Lookie Lookie has been wowing club and festival crowds all over New England with it.
The members of Lookie Lookie have distinguished pedigrees in the Boston and international music scenes. Leader, saxophonist and vocalist Russ Gershon has performed at the Sanctuary previously with his Grammy-nominated jazz group the Either/Orchestra; E/O conguero and vocalist Vicente Lebron, who has played with the greats from Celia Cruz on down leads the rhythm section; timbales player Rick Barry toured for years in Bim Skala Bim, an essential band on the 1980s US ska scene; percussionist Ken Winokur founded the internationally recognized silent film accompaniment group the Alloy Orchestra; bassist Gregory Ryan has played with jazz great Billy Harper and Harold Mabern; vocalist/percusionist Jorge Arce is has been a force in Puerto Rico and Boston for forty years; saxophonist/flutist Ted DeColo has toured with Mighty Sam McLean; the group is rounded out by trumpeter Eric Ortiz.
On top of all the instruments are the voices. In the tradition of folk musics like Puerto Rican Bomba and even garage rock, which was an ingredient in the original bugalú, all the members of Lookie Lookie sing, in chorus (“coro” in Spanish) and by passing lead vocals around, in Spanish and English. Fun is the heartbeat of Lookie Lookie – the musicians delight in conjuring the psychedelic vibe of the 1960s while anchoring it in heavy Latin grooves at tempos that everybody can dance to. You don't need salsa chops or double jointed hips to get out on the floor and bugalu, and if you don't feel like dancing – there's plenty of musical substance for your ears.
$17 advance | $22 day-of + fees
Primo Cubano
THIS IS A DANCE PARTY!
Primo Cubano plays traditional Cuban dance music dating back to the turn of the 20th century. SON is the most popular style to come out of Cuba and is the primary contributor to the blend of Latin styles today known as SALSA. It was first a music of the country people and eventually migrated to Havana, where it was urbanized and began to draw wider audiences.
After 16 years of learning and performing the national music of Cuba, Primo Cubano was invited to perform at the 2024 Havana Jazz Festival! They performed two shows at the festival and then invited to sit in at various bars and clubs throughout city. To their surprise, many Cuban musicians and people from the audience told them that Primo Cubano is the first band they have ever seen from the USA to come to Cuba and perform their music. Needless to say, it was an incredible honor for the band to be validated after all these years.
Paul D’Alessio: Tres Cubano (a traditional, cuban, guitar-like instrument)
Marc Chillemi: Trumpet, Percussion, BG Vox
Lenny Hatch: Congas, Bongos, Percussion
Ryan Hergenhan: Timbales
Duane Edwards: Upright Bass
Primo Cubano interprets the classic Son Cubano with affinity, appreciation and inspiration bringing this vibrant music to life for audiences in Maine and beyond.
As the Soneros of Cuba say; “Pa’ Goza!”
$17 advance | $22 day-of | $10 student
*fees not included ($2 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Lookie Lookie @ The Dance Hall
Lookie Lookie returns for a hot evening of Latin music!
Dance Hall favorites Lookie Lookie is an eight-piece band playing Bugalú – Latin music from groovy 1960’s New York, when young musicians pollinated elements of soul and pop into mambo and rhumba. Top artists in the genre included Ricardo Ray, Joe Cuba, Pete Rodriguez and Eddie Palmieri.
Lookie features two of the true maestros of Boston’s Latin music scene – Jorge Arce and Vicente Lebron – along with the Grammy-nominated leader of the internationally recognized Either/Orchestra, Russ Gershon. Also aboard are Rick Barry of the legendary ska band Bim Skala Bim, Ken Winokur, founder of the renowned silent film accompanist groups Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra and Alloy Orchestra, Gregory Ryan, who has played bass with jazz giants Billy Harper and Harold Mabern, and top horn players Ted DeColo and Eric Ortiz.
Despite these weighty credentials, the music is buoyant and fun, suitable for dancing – all styles, no salsa skills necessary. If dancing’s not your thing, there’s plenty for listening: with four percussionists, three horns and bass, the music is a treat for the ears, with deep Afro-Carribean grooves, jazz soloing and plenty of singing, in Spanish and English.
$15 advance $20 door