Groove to the Latin Beat at the Tito Puente Latin Music Series: Gregorio Uribe August 5, 2010

It's hard to cha-cha or salsa under summer temps without a refreshing breeze and plenty of room to dance. The Tito Puente Latin Music Series takes place in July and August at outdoor locations across Boston, cool backdrops for sultry experiences. The six-concert series is an infectious soundscape of timba, mambo, bolero, Cuban, and Afrorican jazz mixed with funk, soul, and groove music. Performers include Berklee faculty, students, and alumni, along with world-renowned artists from Puerto Rico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Israel, and Brazil.

The wildly danceable Gregorio Uribe y Su Orquesta is a 15-piece group that harkens back to traditional Colombian bands with large horn and rhythm sections. Directed by Berklee alumnus drummer, composer, and arranger Uribe, the band plays his original songs and traditional music from his native Colombia. A highlight at any concert is when Uribe plays the same accordion that he's had since his youth. Uribe's original music is influenced by his travels all over South America—where he played guitar to support his wanderings—and the punk and rock bands he played in as a teenager. Uribe currently lives in New York and plays steady gigs between Boston and Miami.

The free concerts are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Call 617 927-1707, or visit berklee.edu/events/summer for more information. All locations are wheelchair accessible.

Official Website: http://www.berklee.edu/events/summer