Los Pleneros de La 21 Biography & Awards

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Artist Info

Members

Edgardo Miranda, Juan Jose Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Jose Lantigua, Michael Carrillo, Hector "Tito" Matos, Nellie Tanco, Sam Charles Tanco, Jose Rivera, Aris Martinez, Angel Luis Torruellas, Israel Berrios, Donald Nicks, Juan Guti�rrez, Johnny Kenton, Miguel "Menique" Barcasnegras, Ray Martinez

Biography

The music and dance of Puerto Rico are preserved through the performances of New York-based los Planeros De La 21. Formed in 1983 by Juan Gutierrez, the 12-piece ensemble spans three generations of Puerto Rican musicians, dancers, and artisans. With their complex, multi-part vocal harmonies set to the rhythms of hand-held plena drums and barrel-shaped bomba drums, the group resurrects the African-rooted bomba and plena musical styles of Puerto Rico. While Billboard praised the band for its "exhilaratingly deep Latino explorations of Afro-Caribbean grooves," the New York Times wrote, "the melodies are gorgeous and the tunes perfectly arranged, precise rhythms making way for singing or a drum section." ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide