Latin Boogaloo band Spanglish Fly will perform at Flushing Town Hall in Queens this December. Photo courtesy
The popular Latin Boogaloo band Spanglish Fly will take the stage at Flushing Town Hall’s Global Mashup Concert on Saturday, December 7th.
Spanglish Fly burst onto the New York scene in 2010. It is part band, part celebration: twelve musicians igniting a party that quickly spreads to the audience. Boogaloo is a mix of Latin, soul, and R&B that emerged from the clubs, the street corners, the transistor radios, and the pool halls of 1960s Spanish Harlem, “El Barrio.” Inspired by Latin boogaloo, or bugalú, Spanglish Fly plays irresistible grooves that blend Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the fervor, the feeling, and the harmonics of 60s soul.
The holiday season is upon New York City, and Flushing Town Hall has one-of-a-kind musical experiences on offer for locals and tourists looking to enjoy an only-in-New-York experience this December. In homage to Queens’ status as “the world’s borough,” Flushing Town Hall presents a celebration of world music.
On Saturday, December 7, audiences can hit the Flushing Town Hall dance floor for a grand “Global Mashup” featuring two large and lively ensembles in collaboration: Taktouka Band, best described as Futuristic Arabic Folk with global dance grooves, and Spanglish Fly, which describes itself as “part band, part celebration,” bringing the party energy with their revival of the Latin Boogaloo style. Audiences are invited to arrive an hour before the concert for introductory dance lessons ahead of the show.
“We are excited to present these top level talents on our stage and invite audiences to discover new sounds and musical pairings they’ve surely never heard before,” says Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s Executive & Artistic Director. “New Yorkers celebrate many different holidays and diverse customs, but one thing is for sure, we all value the season as a time for togetherness and joy. I can think of no better way to enjoy one another in community this December than through the experience of live music. Come celebrate with us in Queens!”
About the performers
Spanglish Fly: Spanglish Fly is part band, part celebration: 12 musicians igniting a party that quickly spreads to the audience. They have been hailed as the premier band of the Latin boogaloo revival,”single-handedly reviving sixties bugalú in NYC” (NBC New York).
Boogaloo! That mix of Latin and soul/R&B that emerged from the clubs, the street corners, the transistor radios and the pool halls of 1960s Spanish Harlem, “El Barrio.” Inspired by Latin boogaloo, or bugalú, Spanglish Fly plays irresistible grooves that blend Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the fervor, the feeling, and the harmonics of 60s soul. Spanglish Fly “roars through covers, originals, and transformations of previously untouched soul hits” (Village Voice), paying homage to the boogaloo genre while refreshing it for a new generation.
Current roster: Mariella Price, vocals/ Paloma Muñoz, vocals/ Jessenia Cuesta, vocals/Rafael Gomez, bass/Matt Thomas, tenor sax/Manuel Garcia Orozco, guitar, bass, vocals/Arei Sekiguchi, timbales/Dylan Blanchard, congas/Kenny Bruno, keyboard, piano/Teddy Acosta, percussion/Edwin “Machuco” Estremera, percussion, vocals/Stefan Zeniuk, bari sax/Paula Winter, percussion/Rich Robles, bass/Ric Becker, trombone/Jonathan Goldman, leader, trumpet.
Taktouka Band: The Taktouka Band features Alia Hajuon on vocals, Bashar Farranon on bass, Daro Behroozion on woodwinds and synth, Clementine on keys and synth, and Jesse Chevan on drums. All are New Yorkers but with wildly different musical backgrounds. The band brings Arabic folk music together with electronics and western instruments, creating a mix of old and new that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of New York City. The sounds of jazz improvisation, global dance grooves, and Arabic melodies enrich and transform each other, bridging cultures, genres, ideas, and communities. Their debut EP “Bassara” was completed thanks to support from NYC Women’s fund and the NYFA in 2022.
For tickets
Global Mashup: “Taktouka Band meets Spanglish Fly”
DATE: Saturday, December 7, 2024
TIME: 7:00 PM Dance Lessons, 8:00 PM Concert
Tickets: $25 General Admission / $20 Seniors and Students w/ID / $18 Members
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.
