LEXINGTON, Ky.—Called “nothing short of high voltage,” “a distinctive voice of the Cuban diaspora” and “a hot, hot act,” two-time Grammy-nominated Latin band Tiempo Libre will perform a concert in Transylvania’s Haggin Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, as part of the Dorothy J. and Fred K. Smith Endowed Concert series.
Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs and dance venues, the members of the Miami-based band are true modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba. Tiempo Libre’s members were all classically trained at La ENA, Cuba’s premiere conservatory during a time when it was illegal to listen to American songs on the radio. Now, the group is an international hit, celebrated for its performances of timba, a mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son, a style of popular Cuban dance music.
Named “Best Latin Band 2008” by the Miami New Times, Tiempo Libre released Bach in Havana, a fusion of Bach with Afro-Cuban rhythms featuring guest tracks by Paquito d’Rivera and Yosvany Terry in May. Bach’s masterpieces make appearances on the album, including the C Major and C Minor Preludes & Fugues from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier.
In January 2005, Tiempo Libre released its debut album on the Shanachie label, Arroz con Mango, which was both a tribute to the Cuban roots of Tiempo Libre’s members and a celebration of their new life in the United States. Released to glowing reviews, Arroz con Mango received tremendous attention in the press and was featured in numerous national publications including Latin Beat, Hispanic Magazine, Jazziz and American Airlines’ American Way Magazine.
To learn more about Tiempo Libre and listen to samples of their music, visit http://www.tiempolibremusic.com/
Free tickets, while they last, are available to the public (two tickets per person) at Transylvania’s William T. Young Campus Center (corner of Broadway and Fourth streets) Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday from noon-8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-10:30 p.m. For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120.