You might not expect to find tapping toes and mambo dancing in a public library, but both happened when the salsa band Almonte visited on Sunday, Feb. 8. Anthony Almonte and his five piece band brought the riveting sounds of jazz, blues, salsa and mambo music to the community room of the Hicksville Public Library.
Almonte is a division of the big band Grupo Arcano. This concert was presented as part of the 2014-2015 Distinguished Artist Concert Series, co-produced with the Cultural and Performing Arts Division of the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Community and Youth Services.
The band started out by showcasing their rhythmic prowess. The drum set and the bongos were pronounced at the very beginning, supported by the piano, electric bass and saxophone. The jazz influence on their style was obvious at once. The performers portrayed a great collaborative energy as each took turns playing solos, passing the focus seamlessly from one player to another. A sense of improvisation accompanied each solo and each performer displayed a high level of musicianship. The band dressed casually and performed with unhindered enthusiasm. This effectively created a relaxed and “cool” environment for the audience.
The energized performance had the audience fully rapt in the music. Some moved in their seat while others actually stood and started to dance. When Almonte played mambo music, several couples got into the cha-cha action. Sometimes, the performers would encourage the audience to applaud after a solo or clap along to the beat. Between songs, Anthony said, “If you feel like dancing, don’t hold back.”
Almonte played their own salsa-inspired versions of jazz classics such as “A Night in Tunisia,” which was made popular by Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis’ “All Blues.” Each band member had the opportunity to show off their jazz abilities, especially the pianist who played with extreme gusto and skill. Anthony even started to sing, making it up as he went along.
The audience reacted positively. One spectator exclaimed, “That was crazy!” after an especially impressive solo by the saxophone player, Jonny Hirsch. Another audience member commented, “[This music] really gets your heart rate up!” There were spontaneous shouts of encouraging comments throughout, and perhaps the best compliment of all came when a few children raced up to the front of the room to dance close to the stage.
The Hicksville Public Library’s community room served as an ideal venue for the afternoon’s concert, as the lighting and acoustics lent themselves to the music and created an overall vibrant atmosphere. The room also provided space for dancing, which really drew the audience into the performance.
