KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present The Phoenix Rivera Ensemble
Thursday, November 10, at 9 PM.
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Phoenix will be on drums, Abel Pabon on piano, Felipe Lamoglia on sax, Nicky Orta on bass, and Papacho Savon on percussion.

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)