KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present the Phoenix Rivera Ensemble, with special guest Tito Puente, Jr.
Thursday May 26, at 9 PM.
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach
For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com
Phoenix Rivera is coming in from New York for Kimberly Chmura’s birthday bash at the Van Dyke Thursday. He’s the son of Mario Rivera.
Phoenix Rivera, the son of international legend Mario Rivera, was born in
New York City in 1965. Guided by his father’s musical insight, Mr. Rivera taught himself the technical aspects of the drums. He has played with musicians such as Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Bobby Bell, Eurythmics, Robert Palmer, Chico O’Farrill and Tito Puente. His most recent recording credits include albums such as At the Point, Vol.1 and Vol. 2 with Papo Vazquez, El Commandante recorded with his father, and Por Fin with Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. In March 2002, Mr. Rivera participated in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz in the Schools Tour with Arturo O’Farrill, which reached over 5,000 New York City students, teachers, and parents.
“Phoenix Rivera is one of a handful of drummers in the world who can play true jazz and true Latin with authority and swing. He has what we call in the business “spangalang†and “timba.’’ You might recognize it as that ineffable quality when you taste smokin’ barbecue. It’s intangible and goes beyond the individual ingredients, but you know it’s there ‘cause you gotta have more. It’s called fatback, manteca, moxie and a million other things. Phoenix has it in spades.†(Zoho records)
