March 24, 2008 (Vol. 7, No. 5)

Free Concert March 28 by Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans

Award-winning recording artist and producer Annette A. Aguilar and her Latin Brazilian Jazz Band, StringBeans, will give a free concert at Lehman on March 28 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Lovinger Theatre.

Called "A Latin Afternoon in the Bronx," the program will include a selection of both Latin jazz classics, played by The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music's Latin Band, and the classics of Tito Puento, Ray Baretto, Carl T. Jadder, and other Latin musicians, played by students from California's Thomas S. Hart Middle School.

This event is sponsored by the Music Education Community and Culture project, which is funded in part by the New York State Music Fund.

The U.S. State Department has named Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans, as Jazz Ambassadors on three different occasions. Formed in 1992 by Aguilar (percussion/vocals), the group includes Freddy Bryant (guitar), Vince Cherico (drums), Sofia Koutsovitis (vocals), Ruben Rodriguez (bass), Rob Thomas (violin), Eddie Venegas (violin/trombone/vocals), Pablo Vergara (piano), Nanny Assis (percussion/vocals), and special alumni guest Frank Almonte (percussion). Their first album, Special Friends (1999), was widely praised by critics and fans.

For over 20 years, Aguilar has performed on Broadway and toured extensively with well-known Latin, reggae, classical, pop, and jazz artists. A graduate of San Francisco State University, she earned a master's degree from Manhattan School of Music and studied Afro-Cuban music with Luis Bauzo and Johnny Almendra at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music has performed both locally and nationally at venues like Gracie Mansion, Lincoln Center, New York University, and Disney's Magic Kingdom. Every year, both as soloists and with their ensembles, students have received high ratings from the New York State School Music Association. Named in honor of the legendary salsa queen, the school was founded in 2003 as part of the Bronx New Century High School Initiative/New Visions for Public Schools. Lehman College is a lead partner in the school.

For more information, contact Jennifer Fernandez at 718-960-8532.

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