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Puerto Plata’s sweet, nostalgic voice is laced with the kind of
wisdom that’s reminiscent of the late Ibrah im Ferrer of
Buena Vista Social Club. Combining meringue,
guaracha, son and música jíbara, Puerto Plata
takes the audience back to the Golden
Age of Dominican guitar music
before the saxophone and accordion became dominant.
An heir to an unbroken native son tradition, Plata offers
a taste of the living music of the great soneros. Son
originated in eastern Cuba when African rhythm and drumming was
introduced to Havana to produce
the mambo, salsa, t im ba and more. The
Dominican Republic version of
son, intertwines bolero, guaracha and early
meringue.
At age 85, the Dominican master, José Cobles is as
charismatic and vigorous as ever. Born in the
resort town of Puerto Plata in
1923, and later given that as a nickname, Plata plays the guitar
and sings Dominican sones, boleros and
merengues in a voice that has seen its share of romance and
trouble.
The musicians for Puerto Plata include José Cobles (Puerto
Plata), vocals; Frank Méndez, lead guitar; Augusto Santos,
rhythm guitar; Samuel Paredes, bass; Randy Alejo, percussion;
and
Roberto Santos,
percussion.
Admission to the performance is $34; $33 for CMA members.
Special group and student rates are available. To purchase
tickets visit the CMA Online Box Office at
www.clevelandart.org/tickets or call 1-888-
CMA -0033. Puerto Plata performs at Murch Auditorium in
the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
(CMNH) located at 1 Wade Oval Drive in Cleveland. Limited
parking is available at the CMNH lot. Additional parking is
available at the Cleveland Museum of
Art parking garage on University
Circle. |
