BLUE CURTAIN RETURNS WITH AN EVENING OF WORLD MUSIC TO HEAT UP THE SUMMER NIGHT: Celebrating 12 years of bringing world-class musicians from around the globe to Princeton for FREE summer concerts, Blue Curtain returns to Community Park North Amphitheater in Pettoranello Gardens on Saturday, July 16 starting at 7 p.m. with Latin jazz legend Papo Vázquez, Mighty Pirates Troubadours and Sofia Rei, who has been called “one of the best Argentine singers ever.”

Featuring Caribbean and South American sounds, Blue Curtain welcomes Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours and Sofia Rei to Pettoranello Gardens on Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. The concert is free.

“The stage is set once again to present world class, culturally diverse and original musical performances with an evening of Caribbean and South American sounds,” says Stephen Allen, co-founder of Blue Curtain. “Princeton’s beautiful Pettoranello Gardens is a powerful setting for a transformative musical experience on a warm summer evening.”

NEA Master and Grammy® Award nominee, Papo Vázquez is a jazz trombonist with his own style, arranger, composer, and he is one of the key figures of Latin music. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Papo grew up in a Puerto Rican-influenced environment in Philadelphia and in Puerto Rico. While still a teenager, he moved to New York City, performing in groups such as Conjunto Libre, in the band of Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri and Willie Colón. Joining Papo Vazquez will be Willie Williams (saxophone), Rick Germanson (piano), Ariel Roles (bass), Joel Mateo (drums), Carlos Maldonado (percussion) and Gao Lugo (percussion).

Originally from Buenos Aires, Sofia Rei’s music is grounded in traditional South American rhythms such as chacarera, zamba and vidala from Argentina, Afro-Peruvian festejo and lando, Afro-Uruguayan candombe, Colombian cumbia and bullerengue and other genres that merge involving jazz harmonies, electronic sounds and rich improvisations. Singing in Spanish, English or Portuguese, Sofia’s voice brings more than the depth and fullness of a riveting voice, tying together diverse influences in a program full of rhythmic complexity, and a melodic purity that haunts even as it uplifts. Her ensemble — J.C. Maillard (guitar), Josh Deutsch (trumpet), Pablo Menares (acoustic bass), and Franco Pinna (drums and percussion) — produces a range of textures as diverse as the cultural roots of its members, an international cast that includes some of the most exciting young talent from North and South America.

Concert-goers are encouraged to come early and enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting of Pettoranello Gardens, Community Park North, Princeton (Route 206 and Mountain Avenue).

The concert is presented to the community by Blue Curtain in cooperation with the Princeton Recreation Department.

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