Fowler Center Series presents Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre, Feb. 12

Feb. 5, 2009 -- The Fowler Center Series presents Tiempo Libre, one of today’s hottest young Latin bands, on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro.



Tiempo Libre, a classically trained group of Cuban musicians, now hails from Miami, although the group’s members once were trained at La Ena, Havana’s premier classical conservatory. Although it was illegal to listen to American music, Tiempo Libre’s members sought out both American music and Cuban artists like Gloria Estefan and Celia Cruz. Tiempo Libre strives to reinterpret and reinvigorate traditional Cuban music for younger audiences and to serve as ambassadors of Cuba’s musical heritage while celebrating the American experience.

Since forming in 2001, the band has played worldwide, including New York City, New Orleans, Hong Kong, Athens, Milan, and Kuala Lumpur. Tiempo Libre has had two consecutive Grammy nominations for their albums “Arroz con Mango” and “Lo Que Esperabas” (“What You’ve Been Waiting For”). The Miami New Times also named them “Best Latin Band 2008.”

Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs, and dance venues, Tiempo Libre shows feature dynamic, passionate performances of timba music – an exciting and engaging combination of Latin jazz and traditional rhythmic Cuban son, but their rhythmic heritage also draws upon batá, African percussion, for an Afro-Cuban beat. Tiempo Libre transcended the borders of genre when they performed with renowned flutist Sir James Galway on his most recent cd, “O’Reilly Street,” released last fall. Tiempo Libre provided a Latin jazz version of Claude Bolling’s “Baroque and Blue,” a timba version of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Badinerie,” and new compositions from Jorge Gomez, Tiempo Libre’s musical director and pianist. Tiempo Libre’s newest cd, “Bach en Havana,” is inspired by the music of Bach and will be released in May on the Sony label. Yosvany Terry and Paquito D’Rivera will perform guest tracks on “Bach en Havana.”

Tickets for all Fowler Center Series events may be purchased by calling 870-972-2781 or 1-888-278-3267, or online at http://www2.astate.edu/tickets. On performance evenings, the box office in Fowler Center opens one hour prior to the event. Ticket prices are $30 and $20 for adults; $24 and $16 for ASU faculty and staff; $23 and $15 for senior adults and K-12 students; and $10 and $6 for ASU students.

See  http://www2.astate.edu/a/finearts/fowler-center/ticket-information.dot for season ticket information, including prices, or call Fowler Center at (870) 972-3471 for more information. For more on Tiempo Libre, contact Allison Ravenscroft at (323) 449-5030, or e-mail her at aravenscroft@sbcglobal.net. To listen to Tiempo Libre, visit the Web site at www.tiempolibremusic.com.           

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 Photo credit: Crackerfarm