Featuring Mofongo de Plena, Jah Steve and the Counteract Band, the Delou African Dance Ensemble and Jacob Henriquez, La Herencia Tipica and DJ Mr. Pauer
Miami, Feb. 8, 2024 – Koubek Center’s Little Havana Social Club is back and celebrating Black History Month with Tambores III, a new installment in a series that travels through Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, and the music and dance styles connecting cultures. Tambores III will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Koubek Center in Little Havana.
Featuring musical artists Mofongo de Plena, Jah Steve and the Counteract Band, the Delou African Dance Ensemble, Jacob Henriquez and La Herencia Tipica, Tambores III is a journey through merengue, bachata, reggae and African dance traditions. Latin Grammy-nominated musician, producer and DJ Mr. Pauer will emcee the evening.
A signature program of the Koubek Center, Little Havana Social Club was designed to evoke the sounds and spirit of the fiesta de barrio, or neighborhood block party, with a contemporary Miami touch. It’s an eclectic evening of music and dance, cosmopolitan yet rooted in tradition and family-friendly, that aims to bring together multi-generational audiences from different backgrounds.
Founded by Edwin Gonzalez in Miami in 2019, the Puerto Rican sextet Mofongo de Plena focuses on plena, a traditional musical style that originated in Ponce, a major city on the Southern coast of the island. Historically, plena has been called “the sung newspaper” because its lyrics often address current events, from neighborhood stories to national political issues. Plena seamlessly blends Spanish and African traditions and is driven by the panderos (hand drums) of various sizes, timbres and roles in the music performance.
Miami-born accordionist Jacob Henriquez, 18, will represent the Dominican Republic in Tambores III. He is the youngest member of a merengue dynasty, including his father and guiro player Julio Henriquez, and his uncle, the late master accordionist and composer Domingo “Tatico” Henriquez, a revered musician considered an innovator of the merengue tipico. Henriquez will perform with La Herencia Tipica, a classic group featuring tambora, guiro, bass and accordion and a singer.
Delou Africa Dance Ensemble (DADE) is the leading presenter of traditional and folkloric African arts in South Florida. Founded by Trinidadian dancer and educator Njeri Plato in 1987, the Delou Africa collective comprises drummers, musicians, dancers and oral historians/storytellers. It provides a platform to engage the traditions of West Africa through artistic expression, education and cultural preservation.
Jah Steve & the Counteract Crew is a roots reggae band featuring a combination of old-school reggae sound and socially aware lyrics, evoking the sound and spirit of their biggest influences: Steel Pulse, Augustus Pablo & Jacob Miller. Led by bassist Jah Steve (aka Steve McGowan), who for 15 years was the band leader and bassist for South Florida Reggae show band 4th Dimension. The band released its first album, Stand Strong, in 2017 and has continued to grow since, performing at the Rastafari Rootz Fest in Negril, Jamaica, touring with legendary reggae artist & Grammy winner Lee “Scratch” Perry being named “Best Musical Artist” by Miami New Times.Venezuelan Latin Grammy-nominated artist, producer and DJ Mr. Pauer has developed a personal sound blending rhythms connected to his Latin roots with electronic global beats. The results, he once dubbed his music “electropical,” are a smart, fascinating mix and fun. Mr. Pauer has shared the stage with artists like Bonobo, Manu Chao, Hot Chip, MIA, Tego Calderón, J. Balvin, Ozuna, Rauw Alejandro and Café Tacuba.
WHAT: Little Havana Social Club – Tambores III
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Koubek Center Garden – 2705 SW 3rd St
FREE PARKING
Tickets: $15 purchased online in advance, $20 at the door
https://www.squadup.com/events/little-havana-social-club-tambores-iii?legacy=0
More Info: www.koubekcenter.org
Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE9v7K5o4Ug
The Koubek Center at MDC
A South Florida landmark with a long and rich history as a cultural hub, The Koubek Center is dedicated to building community through the arts. Over the past several decades, the Center has offered a variety of activities, including workshops, art exhibitions, theater performances, literary readings and concerts. It is a place for artists and local arts organizations to explore, experiment, collaborate and share their work with the community. The Koubek Center includes a 200-seat theater, an expansive garden, classrooms, rehearsal and multi-use spaces. Built in 1929 by Austrian trader John J. Koubek as a gift to his wife, it was later donated to the University of Miami and acquired by Miami Dade College in 2011.
Equal access and equal opportunity
Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, ethnicity, pregnancy, sexual orientation or genetic information. To obtain more information about the College’s equal access and equal opportunity policies, procedures, and practices, please get in touch with the College’s Equity Officer: Cindy Lau Evans, Director, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and ADA Coordinator, at 305-237-2577 (Voice) or 711 (Relay Service); 11011 SW 104th St., Room 1102-01; Miami, FL 33176. EquityOff@mdc.edu