Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera, a noted Cuban fusion musician, will be performing at Carleton College on Friday, April 15 as a part of the College’s annual Foro Latinoamerico conference. The performance, which takes place at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall, will be free and open to the public.
Herrera first appeared on the Cuban music scene as a 12-year-old child prodigy, performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. He has studied with great Cuban musicians including Rubén Gonzáles, Jorge Gomez Labraña, and Frank Fernández. Herrera now lives in Minnesota. In his 20s, he became musical director at the famous Tropicana in Cuba, before joining the famed ¡Cubanismo! group as its lead pianist, arranger, and musical director. He has also performed with the Buena Vista Social Club, the superstar group which remains a preeminent voice in Cuban and World music.
Herrera’s music combines traditional Cuban rhythms with influences from other genres, including classical music, jazz, and a blend of American influences. With ¡Cubanismo!, Herrera performed in the world’s finest concert halls and most prestigious festivals. He is currently on an extensive world tour following a 2009 tour with the Afro Cuban All Stars. He will perform at Carleton alongside his Trio. His albums includes Bembe en mi casa (Fs Music, 2005) and Nachito Herrera & Puro Cubano Live at the Dakota (Dakota Live!, 2002). More information on Herrera and his music can be found online at www.nachito.net.
The Concert Hall is located on the Carleton campus at the intersection of First and Nevada Streets. This event is sponsored by the Department of Latin American Studies. A full schedule of events at the Foro Latinoamericano can be found on the Events page of the Carleton website at www.carleton.edu. For further information and disability accommodations, contact Mary Tatge at mtatge@carleton.edu.