Ángel “Papote” Alvarado y El Grupo Escencia
After their great success in Chicago and New Orleans, Ángel “Papote” Alvarado y el Grupo Esencia arrive in New York City to perform live on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture in Hostos Community College. In their Hostos Center debut, Ángel “Papote” Alvarado y el Grupo Esencia will celebrate 25 years of performing and recording their dynamic style of hard-hitting, danceable Bomba, Plena and Salsa – beloved musical forms and traditions from Puerto Rico. These Latin Grammy nominees released their seventh album “El tren de la sabrosura” (The Train of Joy) in 2022 to high praise and recognition, winning the prestigious "Best Album of the Year" from Puerto Rico's Fundación Nacional para La Cultura Popular.
Joining them is special guest artist Hector “Pichie” Pérez – the Bronx-born “sonero” and 30-year lead singer of Papo Lucca’s acclaimed salsa band La Sonora Ponceña. This culturally rich evening will resonate with lovers - young and old - of contemporary Puerto Rican Bomba, Plena, Salsa and Afro-Caribbean music.
The evening opens with an exciting set performed by Bronx-based singer and artist Yova Rodríguez y Su Conjunto Sakao Aká, under the direction of percussionist Anthony Carrillo. The stellar evening takes place in the Main Theater of Hostos Community College, located at 450 Grand Concourse (at 149 th Street) in the Bronx. Tickets are $25 and $20 with discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. They can be purchased online at www.hostoscenter.org, by calling 718-518-4455 (M-F, 9am-5pm), or by visiting the Hostos Box Office Window, Mon-Fri, from 1pm to 4pm and beginning at 5:30 pm on the day of the concert. Hostos Community College can be reached by the IRT 2, 4, 5 Trains and the Bronx Bx1, Bx2, Bx19 buses to 149 th Street & Grand Concourse. By car, the College is off Exit 3 of the Major Deegan Expressway (I-87).
