On select Wednesdays through May 5, local musicians will perform Latin music among the collection of 14 sculptures by the famed Mexican-American artist Enrique Alférez in the New Orleans Botanical Garden at City Park. Admission to the garden and “Evenings with Enrique” concerts are free for Louisiana residents courtesy of The Helis Foundation.
Guests should enter through Oscar J. Tolmas Building at 5 Victory Avenue. Mojitos, nonalcoholic beverages, and Latin food will be available for sale. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
Schedule
April 21
5 p.m. | Gauchos del Tango with Yulene Velasquez and Michael Ward-Bergman
Yulene Velásquez is a Venezuelan singer, music educator and choral conductor. She performed internationally as a member of the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela and worked with world renowned composers such as John Adams and Osvaldo Golijov. Since 2013, Velásquez has worked with Make Music NOLA, the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts and Anna’s Place NOLA. In 2015, she founded the chamber choir Schola NOLA. Velásquez is currently teaching Spanish at Tulane University and is a PhD student in Music Education at Louisiana State University.
6:30 p.m. | Javier Gutierrez and Vivaz Trio
Javier Gutierrez and Vivaz is an exciting band from New Orleans formed in 2001 that plays world musical textures, combining the virtuosity of Jazz, Brazilian, Spanish flamenco-influenced guitars with seductively exotic Latin jazz sounds and New Orleans rhythms. Viváz as its name means “Vivacios” is a band that was formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2001. This is a vibrant and highly energetic musical group with an extraordinary talent. The band is comprised of musicians from South American countries and the United States.
April 28
5 p.m. | Patrice Fisher and Arpa with special guests Alejandro Junco Romero on violin, Juan Soto-Bown on bass, and Cesar Bacaro on percussion
World music harpist and composer Patrice Fisher has been performing and recording her own compositions since 1980. She is a graduate of Tulane University, Wolf Trap Academy for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Creative Music Studio Jazz School in New York. She has recorded 16 albums of original music, including her latest CD, Happy Socks, featuring musicians from New Orleans, Brazil, Guatemala and Honduras.
May 19 (NEW DATE)
5 p.m. | Margie Perez and members of her group, Muevelo
Margie Perez is a vivacious singer and songwriter specializing in a versatile blend of blues, pop, and Latin with a New Orleans funky touch. Dubbed by OffBeat Magazine as “One of the hardest working musicians in New Orleans” she performs in a wide range of musical acts. She is also leader of Muevelo, a salsa band that performs Cuban music.
“Evenings with Enrique” is presented by City Park Botanical Gardens and the Ecos Latinos Series, a Hispanic cultural and performing arts series.
For more information, visit here.
