Karen Ponzio Photos
Grupo Tentación on the Green on Sunday.
Under a crisp and clear Sunday sky, two bands — Grupo Tentación and QUITAPENAS — brought highly danceable Latin beats to the New Haven Green for the second night of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas.
Groups both large and small dotted the grassy areas with blankets, chairs, and more than a few pizza boxes, as well as other recognizable local delicacies. The scent of kettle corn and fried dough, sold along Temple Street, enticed others to partake in those delights.
Arts & Ideas producer Juanita Austin came to the stage to welcome everyone to the festival, which she noted was in its 28th year.
“Are we ready to dance?” she asked. “Are we ready to move?” She then introduced the New London-based Grupo Tentación, noting their “infectious rhythms and captivating melodies.”
Vocalist Milagros Merced asked the audience if they were “ready for some Latin music.” The answer was a resounding “yes.” The eight-member strong band dove right in, and many jumped up immediately to meet the music with movement. With each and every song the band offered, more and more audience members got to moving, some in their chairs, some in the open area in front of the stage. The band members were thrilled, letting the audience know they were ready to give them more of the same.
“Merengue, salsa, cumbia, whatever you like, we play,” Merced told the crowd, who cheered her on. Each time they kicked up the tempo another notch, more audience members joined the dance. Some even sang along, such as when they added a piece of “Waka Waka” by Shakira to one of their medleys. But it was a night for dancing and encouraging everyone to join in, even if it was simply swaying in their chairs or while standing. As Merced pointed out before the final song of Grupo Tentación’s set, “it’s easy, you go side to side.”
Jenny Medina Morris, multicultural public relations for Arts & Ideas, came out to introduce Luis Luna, who then introduced QUITAPENAS, telling the growing crowd they were “a band from California fusing Afro-Latino music, reminding us about our diversity here in Connecticut, and our diversity is one of our strengths.”
“Celebrate with one another. Celebrate our community,” he added, before the band took to the stage.
“I know you’re comfortably sitting, but don’t fight the urge to get up and get moving,” said vocalist and guitarist Daniel Gómez.
QUITAPENAS
He did not have to say that again, as the band — which also included Héctor Chávez on vocals and saxophone, Mark Villela on percussion and maracas, Ivan McCormick on synth and keyboards, David Quintero on bass, and Eduardo Valencia on drums and percussion — served over an hour of beat-driven music that melded cultures and brought more and more audience members forward. Fusing song into song and often switching instruments with one another, the indefatigable band members never stopped moving, or smiling, themselves.
“We’re happy to see you guys dancing,” said Chávez. “That’s our main motivator. The more people we see dancing the more we feel like we accomplished our vision.”
The band members noted that it was their first time in Connecticut, but that they were also playing later this week in Hartford. I advise finding out where that is happening and making plans to attend.
There were still those, of course, that did not get up and dance — like this reporter’s husband, who still enjoyed the music and the people watching — but the irresistible beats made it near impossible. Even this reporter finally tossed aside her camera, pad, and pen and joined in. It was one of those near-perfect New Haven nights that makes you feel like for a few hours you were on vacation, far away from your responsibilities and anything that holds you back.
“QUITAPENAS means to take away your worries,” said Gómez. “so, we hope we’re doing that.”
Arts & Ideas has even more free concerts coming up on the Green over the next two weeks as well as a multitude of other events. Visit the festival’s website for a full schedule.
