WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, AT 8 PM

Media Sponsor: KLON 88.1 FM

On Wednesday, July 31 at 8 p.m., the Hollywood Bowl presents the Latin Jazz Spectacular featuring Celia Cruz, one of Latin music's most respected voices, and the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra, comprised of members of the legendary Latin orchestras of Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodriguez, in its Hollywood Bowl debut.

Backbeat Live pre-concert performances take place one hour prior to the concert at the Patio, and are free to all ticket holders. The July 31 session features salsa dance lessons with Isabelle Pampillo.

Celia Cruz has become an ambassador for Hispanic culture and Afro-Cuban music. As one of the definitive voices of her genre and with her more than 70 albums and 12 Grammy nominations, Cruz has earned the title of the "Queen of Salsa." Cruz' contributions to Latin music were celebrated in the 1990s when the Smithsonian Institute honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award and consequently placed her trademark orange, red, and white polka dot dress and shoes in its permanent collection.

The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra was born from the dedicated effort of Tito Rodriguez Jr. and other acclaimed musicians to keep alive the tradition of the so called "Big 3" - Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodriguez. With 20 members and a repertoire of over 2,000 tunes, the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra recreates all the glory of the 1950s Latin big band and mambo craze with its tropical-flavored horns, be-bop piano, and driving conga beats.

Twelve-time Grammy nominee, Cuban songstress CELIA CRUZ began her career in 1950 with the Latin big band La Sonora Matancera. She toured with them for fifteen years, during which time Cruz left Cuba after Castro's takeover. In 1965, with the help of Tito Puente, she started her solo career with a band of her own. While critical praise came quickly for Celia, it wasn't until 1974 - when she released an album with Johnny Pacheco - that she found great commercial success. Celia Cruz began appearing with the Fania All-Stars, and has also collaborated with Oscar D'Leon, Willie Colón, and David Byrne. Celia Cruz last performed at the Bowl in 2000.

Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodriguez were known as the Latin big band maestros in the '50s and '60s performing at New York's famous Palladium dance hall. Alumni from all three big bands come together in the BIG 3 PALLADIUM ORCHESTRA, a 20-piece orchestra recreating the magic and chemistry, playing the original charts to bring authentic salsa, mambo, and Latin jazz back to life. This marks the debut of the orchestra at the Bowl.

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of just under 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and, in 1991 gave its name to The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California. A hit from its very first season, the Hollywood Bowl has remained popular and accessible to a wide cross-section of Southern California's diverse population. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "Open House at the Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 34th season. Attendance figures over the past several decades have soared: in 1980 the Bowl first topped the half-million mark and last summer, close to one million admissions were recorded. It is no wonder that the Bowl's summer music festivals have become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers and Disneyland.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Wednesday, July 31, 8 PM

Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood)

LATIN JAZZ SPECTACULAR

CELIA CRUZ

BIG 3 PALLADIUM ORCHESTRA

JOSÉ RIZO, host

Media Sponsor: KLON 88.1 FM

Backbeat Live pre-concert performances take place one hour prior to the concert at the Patio, and are free to all ticket holders. The July 31 session features Salsa dance lessons with Isabelle Pampillo.

Tickets ($1 - $70) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at hollywoodbowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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