Gary Nuñez & Plena Libre July 14, 2010

Dance Music from Puerto Rico- The Dance Floor Will Be Open!


The Torch Bearers of Puerto Rico’s Plena, Bomba, and Beyond!

Four-Time Grammy Nominee Plena Libre is the Music of Puerto Rico as it Should Be Experienced- Live!

A culmination of African, Spanish, and Caribbean sounds, plena was born in the barrios of Puerto Rico in the early 20th century. Starting as a solo pandero (frame drum) that quickly developed into a trio of interlocking pandero patterns that accompanied a call-and-response vocal style, plena soon evolved from a music solely played by agricultural migrants to a popular form of social expression that recounted the daily lives of the island's inhabitants. "Plena has been called 'the people's newspaper,'" says Núñez, "because its songs recount the history of our land; it comments on and satirizes everyday life. You won't read its stories in history books." While augmenting plena with contemporary influences such as jazz, merengue, cumbia, and mambo, Plena Libre nourishes the roots of this music by continuing to sing about relevant social issues that affect the island.

While drawing from a diverse contemporary cosmopolitan well, Plena Libre's foundation is built on local elements. "Ninety-five percent of our repertoire is based on the plena and bomba," says Núñez. Retaining the African call-and-response singing style found in these musical styles, a constant dialogue between the sonero and the coro (chorus of singers) is present throughout many of Plena Libre's compositions.

Unlike salsa bands, who usually only have two singers, Plena Libre features five vocalists singing in lush three and four part harmonies; a musical representation of a traditional community gathering. Further giving their live performances a memorable standout quality, occasionally, the entire band will vocalize the percussion parts of the plena, creating an a cappella polyphonic polyrhythm. These artistic choices drive home the core of the tradition in an aesthetic that appeals to broad audiences and aficionados alike.

For more information, visit www.plenalibre.com

Official Website: http://www.yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub/artist/show/1350