Carnegie Hall Citywide: Champe-Soukous Collective FREE on July 28 at Bryant Park Picnic Performances

Images Courtesy Champe-Soukous Collective

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America season of free, live performances continues on Friday, July 28 with newly formed all-star Afro-Colombian group Champe-Soukous Collective. This is the fourth of five extraordinary Carnegie Hall Citywide performances at Bryant Park this summer, which include six-time Grammy Award winner Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (July 7), American folk meets European classical with violinist-fiddler Tessa Lark and composer-bassist Michael Thurber (July 14), Aire album release celebration with Magos Herrera featuring The Knights (July 21), and South African vocal group and America’s Got Talent finalist Ndlovu Youth Choir (August 4).

Attendees may bring their own food or purchase from on-site food and beverage vendors near the Lawn. At all performances, attendees can discover new dishes and celebrate classics from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of local artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair. Stout NYC offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.

Performance Details

Friday, July 28 at 7PM

Champe-Soukous Collective

The Champe-Soukous Collective is a newly formed All-Star ensemble that bridges the Trans-Atlantic connection between Colombian champeta and its source music: the Belle Époque era soukous-rumba of Central Africa and Congo. From Central Africa the group features such historic performers as vocalists Wawali Bonane Bungu (Congo), Mis Blandine (Congo), Ricardo Lemvo (Angola/Congo/USA), and soukous guitar legend Huit Kilos Nseka (Congo). From Colombia, the Collective includes the core of Colombia’s “champeta champions” Tribu Baharu as the ensemble’s rhythm foundation as well as champeta vocal legend Louis Towers, Sidestepper vocalist Eka Gordom, horns from Oscar “El Kike” Banquez amongst others.

Together, the force of this un-paralleled Champe-Soukous Collective will be an Afro-Colombian dance party not to be missed!

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Location and Subway Directions:

Bryant Park is situated behind the New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Take the B, D, F, or M train to 42nd Street/Bryant Park; or, take the 7 train to 5th Avenue.