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Photo by M. Fox.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Pocantico
Folklore Urbano Orchestra performs at Pocantico in August 2021.
In the summer of 2021, the Melissa Aldana Quartet, Folklore Urbano Orchestra, and A Palo Seco Flamenco performed at The Pocantico Center for audiences of frontline workers and community groups. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, enjoy full-length recordings of these dynamic performances that reflect Hispanic and Latin American artists' rich and varied contributions to our cultural fabric, especially in the communities surrounding Pocantico.
The Pocantico Center offers performances, workshops, tours, and other events throughout the year. View upcoming events →
Melissa Aldana
GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana was born in Santiago, Chile, and graduated from Berklee College of Music. She has released four albums: Free Fall (2010), Second Cycle (2012), Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (2013), and Visions (2021). She is the first woman and the first South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Aldana was appointed to the New England Conservatory faculty beginning in fall 2021 and signed to Blue Note Records in May 2021.
Folklore Urbano Orchestra
Folklore Urbano Orchestra is the powerhouse ensemble of Colombian pianist, composer, and artistic director Pablo Mayor. Featuring Mayor’s renowned arrangements and collaborative work with songwriters like Nick Chavarria and Cruz “Chino” Melao, an icon of the historic era of NYC salsa, the orchestra's latest album, El Barrio Project-SALSA, takes listeners to the heart of the historic birthplace of salsa: Spanish Harlem and the Bronx.
A Palo Seco
A Palo Seco is a New York-based flamenco company that strives to develop a unique voice. Their work aims to expose people to an innovative way of looking at Flamenco, combining traditional techniques with a modern, metropolitan flare. Run by artistic director and choreographer Rebeca Tomas, the company appears throughout the United States.