Bébé La La—the multiaward-winning singer/songwriter duo of Alicia Ultan (viola, guitar, vocals) and Maryse Lapierre (accordion, harmonium, vocals), backed by longtime collaborators Micky Patten (bass) and Joe Chellman (drums)—celebrates its 15th (crystal) anniversary with a November 15 concert at the Outpost, presented by AMP Concerts.
On March 1 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), Frank Leto will present “Carnaval 2025: Veinte Años,” his 20th almost-annual celebration of Carnaval at the NHCC. This year’s performance, which, as usual, features Frank’s vibrant original music and the Odara Dance Ensemble’s energized choreography and lavish costumes, is dedicated to his late wife, the inimitable dancer and life force Pilar Leto, who unexpectedly passed away February 11, 2024.
On February 9 and 10 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), Frank and Pilar Leto will present “Carnaval 2024: Comunidade,” their 19th almost-annual celebration of Carnaval, which features vibrant original music and dance and lavish costumes. This year, they are paying tribute to the many dancers, musicians, actors, and sponsors from the Albuquerque community who have made these unique Carnaval performances possible year after year. In addition, Frank’s latest album, It Seems Like Yesterday, will be available at the event in advance of its official release.
Continue reading
With “Carnaval 2023: Homage” set for February 24 and 25 at the NHCC, Frank and Pilar Leto deliver their 18th production celebrating Carnaval with original music and dance. This year, they are paying tribute to the couples who deeply influenced them, such as their friends Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, and Frank is releasing a studio album, Homage, featuring songs that have graced their Carnaval productions over the years.
Brazil Project (left to right): John Bartlit, Patty Stephens, Rob “Milo” Jaramillo, Frank Leto, and Bert Dalton
Pianist Bert Dalton’s Brazil Project is on a mission: to make the music of Brazilian composer/
pianist Manfredo Fest more widely known and appreciated. Dalton first crossed paths with the late Fest (1936–1999), one of the innovators of the bossa nova movement in the late 1950s, more than 30 years ago. He was immediately and permanently smitten with Fest’s energetic music. He’s played it ever since, wanting to expose a wider audience to its seamless blending of bop influences and Brazilian pulse.
For this special mission, Dalton is augmenting his Brazil Project personnel—Patty Stephens
(vocals), Rob “Milo” Jaramillo (bass), John Bartlit (drums), and Frank Leto (percussion)—with Ali Ryerson, one of the world’s top jazz flutists, and Phill Fest, son of Manfredo and a guitarist whose albums place high on the jazz charts. The septet will present three concerts titled “Dig This Samba!” this week—in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and El Paso—with the El Paso concert being recorded live for an upcoming album. Continue reading