Berklee presents its 11th annual Latin Culture Celebration, an event organized by students to showcase music from Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, and other parts of Latin American. Public events take place throughout the month of November, with concerts and clinics presented by students, faculty, alumni, staff, and guest artists. Highlights include concerts by Puerto Rican pianist Angel David Mattos November 4, vocalists Mili Bermejo and Patricia Elena Vlieg November 10, and Cuban superstar Issac Delgado November 12.
All concerts are open to the public. Concerts at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, are $10 for general admission, unless otherwise noted. Events at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston Street; David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street; and Recital Hall 1A and 1W, 1140 Boylston Street; are free. Visit http://www.berklee.edu/events for more information.
Clinics are open to Berklee students only. Prominent clinicians include singer-songwriter Noel Schajris (Sin Bandera) and Grammy-winning producers KC Porter (Santana, Selena) and Benny Faccone (Ricky Martin, Sting).
SCHEDULE
Monday, November 2
Victor Mendoza/Marcus Santos
Concert, 8 p.m., Cafe 939
Mexico-born vibist and composer Victor Mendoza is considered one of today’s finest Latin jazz artists. Recordings and performances with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Danilo Pérez, Michel Camilo, Claudio Roditi, and Antonio Sánchez, have earned him the respect of critics and fans around the globe.
More information: http://www.victormendoza.com
Raised in the uniquely African-influenced culture of Bahia, Brazil, Marcus Santos has passionately committed his life to the study, preservation, and teaching of Afro-Brazilian music and heritage. The Berklee alumnus is the leader of the 20-piece ensemble Bloco AfroBrazil.
More information: http://www.marcussantos.com
Wednesday, November 4
Angel David Mattos/Pan American Faculty Band
Concert, 8:15 p.m., Berklee Performance Center
Puerto Rico-born pianist/composer Angel David Mattos fuses elements of Latin and straight ahead jazz, classical, and Puerto Rican folk music. The Berklee alumnus has performed or recorded with Dave Valentin, Alex Acuña, Bob Mintzer, John Benitez, Mike Stern, and Antonio Sanchez, among others. Berklee’s Pan American Faculty Band, directed by professors Bernardo Hernandez and Bertram Lehmann, will perform in the concert’s second half.
More information: http://www.angeldavidmattos.com
Thursday, November 5
Taller de Música Experimental
Concert, 7:30 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall
Taller de Musica Experimental (Experimental Music Workshop), from Carabobo, Venezuela, is an eight-piece ensemble that combines Afro-Caribbean rhythms and instruments with elements of jazz.
More information: http://www.myspace.com/thelaraproject
Monday, November 9
Fernando Brando
Concert, 8 p.m., Cafe 939
Berklee professor Fernando Brando is an award-winning flutist,
