Global Music: Plena Libre

Approaching their 30th anniversary as torchbearers of Puerto Rican plena, bomba, and salsa fused with Afro-Caribbean traditions, Plena Libre boasts 15 LPs and 4 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations and a reputation for scintillating performances that deliver on their promise of unbeatable Latin dance parties. The Boston Herald calls Plena Libre’s music “a mad weave of polyrhythms that simply sizzle.”

The band blends traditional Puerto Rican Plena rhythms with modern Afro-Caribbean influences in their contemporary compositions. They mix a hard-hitting horn section, master hand drummers, and lush vocal harmonies into a modern blend. They’ve toured the world from Morocco to California and everywhere in between, and recorded with some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Eddie Palmieri, Papo Lucca (La Sonora Ponceña), and Nestor Torres.