Music: The Mariachi Academy of New York led by Ramón Ponce, Sr. & Ramón Ponce, Jr. of Mariachi Real de Mexico - TONIGHT Thursday, April 18th, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
The mariachi – a hundred year tradition – has been widely considered the quintessential Mexican folk-derived musical ensemble. It is largely kept alive by Ramón Ponce, Jr. and his father Ramón Ponce, Sr., both of whom are members of the band the Mariachi Real de Nueva York. Together they founded the Mariachi Academy of New York (MANY), a community-led not-for-profit organization devoted to preserving the rich heritage of mariachi to youth in New York. It intends to develop the skills in musical training, discipline, creativity and self-esteem while strengthening language, team working skills and a strong sense of identity.
Film: The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in Bronx Theaters presented by Paulina Suarez-Hesketh
Friday, April 19th, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Paulina Suarez-Hesketh is a doctoral candidate in Cinema Studies at New York University. She has an MA from the University of Chicago, and a BA from UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). Her research interests include popular film genres, Latin American modernity, and immigrant home movies. During her presentation, Paulina will be showing clips from Mexican films and offering insights into their significance in the Canon of Mexican Cinema.
Palabras/Words: Rock & Read - Return to the Bronx with author and musician Larry Kirwan
Saturday, April 20th, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Larry Kirwan provides lead vocals and lead guitar for the Irish rock band Black 47, which has been recording music and performing together for over 20 years. He is also the author of several books and plays, including Liverpool Fantasy and Green Suede Shoes: An Irish American Odyssey. His latest novel, Rockin’ the Bronx, tells the story of a young Irish immigrant who finds himself facing the turmoil of the 1980s Bronx.
May | Bronx Week:
Music: Bronx Beat Masters featuring Bobby Sanabria and Rebel Diaz
Thursday, May 16th, 8:00pm
A Bronx native, Master Musician Bobby Sanabria is a seven-time Grammy Award-nominated artist and an inductee into the Bronx Walk of Fame. He is also on the faculty of the New School and the Manhattan School of Music, where he conducts Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Bands. Rebel Diaz is a bi-lingual hip hop duo based in the South Bronx. They are internationally renowned and have recently toured Europe. Rebel Diaz is also known for starting the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, a South Bronx community arts center.
Film: 30th anniversary screening of Wild Style and a Q&A w/ director Charlie Ahearn and film participants DJ Grand Wizard Theodore and Rodney C! Stone
Friday, May 17th, 8:00pm
Directed by Charlie Ahern, Wild Style was released in 1982 and quickly became known as the classic hip hop movie, which records the early days of hip hop in the South Bronx. The film follows many of hip hops early influencers, like DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, who is credited with inventing two dominant dj techniques, scratching and the needle-drop. Also highlighted in the film is MC Rodney C! of the Funky Four Plus One More, which was the first hip hop group to perform live on national television as the musical guests on Saturday Night Live.
Palabras/Words: The Drama of King Shotaway
Saturday, May 18, 7:30pm
In honor of the 12th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Garifuna Language, Music and Dance as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the BMHC presents a reading of The Drama of King Shotaway. Authored and staged by William Henry Brown in 1823, The Drama of King Shotaway tells the story of the 1795 Black Caribs' (Garifunas) defense of the Island of Saint Vincent against colonization, led by the Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer. This event will commemorate the 190th Anniversary of The Drama of King Shotaway, which is recognized as the first Black drama of the American Theater, with a theatrical reading, plus an outdoor recitation projected onto the Intervale Green building in Garifuna and English by City Lore's POEMobile. The passages will be read by Sidney Mejía, the author of The Life and Times of Chatoyer, who will be accompnaied by the drummers Oracio Alvarez, Rosendo Blanco, Julio Rubio and Julio Avila.
Future Events
June | Women’s Voices
Thursday, June 20, 8:00pm | Music: Legacy Circle Women's Drum Cypher
Friday, June 21, 8:00pm | Film: Braggin’ Rights: Stickball Stories and a Q&A by director Sonia Gonzalez and stickball player Frankie Martínez from the team, The Gold
Saturday, June 22, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: Book reading: Breaking Ground/Abriendo caminos by anthology editor Myrna Nieves and poets Elizabeth Cruz and Prisionera
July | Caribbean Carnival!
Thursday, July 18, 8:00pm | Music: Ilu Aye performing music of the Caribbean Carnival traditions
Friday, July 19, 8:00pm | Film: Caraballo, Masks and Carnival (The Ponce Carnival Masks, According to Miguel A. Caraballo García) with a Q&A with producer Nestor Murray-Irizarry from Casa Paoli in Ponce, Puerto Rico and mask-maker Felipe Rangel
Saturday, July 20, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: TBD
August | Bronx Salsa Month
Thursday, August 15, 8:00pm | Music: Ray Martínez and Cuerda y Tambo
Friday, August 16, 8:00pm | Film: Our Latin Thing and Q&A w/ director Leon Gast
Saturday, August 17, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: Reading from Mambo Diablo: My Life with Tito Puente by author Joe Conzo with special guests
September
Thursday, September 19, 8:00pm | Music: Jacqueline Flowers & her Quintet
Friday, September 20, 8:00pm | Film: Salty Dog Blues and a Q&A by directors Al Santana and Denise Belén Santiago, and Porto Rico Steamship Line collector Ralph Méndez
Saturday, September 21, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: Presentation of the book, Speak English!: The Rise of Latinos in Baseball with author Rafael Hermoso and photographer Rita Rivera
October
Thursday, October 17, 8:00pm | Music: Valerie Capers
Friday, October 18, 8:00pm | Film: TBD
Saturday, October 19, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: TBD
November | Puerto Rican Heritage Month
Thursday, November 21, 8:00pm | Music: Trio Los Platinos
Friday, November 22, 8:00pm | Film: The Borinqueeners and a Q&A with executive producer Noemi Figueroa Soulet and 65th Regiment veteran Eugenio Quevado
Saturday, November 23, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: Reading from Chulito: The Novel by author Charles Rice Gonzalez and special guest
December | Season 2 Closing Week
Thursday, December 19, 8:00pm | Music: Puerto Rican parranda led by Matthew Gonzalez and Jorge Vázquez
Friday, December 20, 8:00pm | Film: Latinos Beyond Reel: Challenging Media Stereotypes and a Q&A with producer Edwin Pagán
Saturday, December 21, 7:30pm | Palabras/Words: Presentation and reading from The Fires: How a Computer Formula, Big Ideas, and the Best of Intentions Burned Down New York City--and Determined the Future of Cities by author Joe Flood
View past Bronx Rising! events.
Visit bronxmusic.org or contact info@bronxmusic.org for more information.
BMHC programs are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. BMHC programming is also made possible with support from The New York Community Trust, The Kresge Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation Cultural Innovation Fund.
About City Lore
City Lore was founded in 1986 and its mission is to foster New York City – and America’s – living cultural heritage through education and public programs. The mission is to document, present, and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy in stories and histories, places and traditions. City Lore works in four cultural domains: urban folklore and history, preservation, arts in education, and grassroots poetry traditions. In each of these realms, we see ourselves as furthering cultural equity and modeling a better world with projects as dynamic and diverse as New York City itself. Its programs include the People’s Hall of Fame, the Place Matters Awards, Arts in Education programs in the schools, and an interactive story map of New York, cityofmemory.org.