Son Como Son & The NHCC
What an amazing night at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) for Son Como Son's 25th anniversary party, the MetroABQ's mesmerizing salsa-&-everything-else Cuban-inspired Latin music ensemble. Calling the evening "a retrospective celebration of salsa," Son Como Son--They Are As They Are--played on their more than a dozen different instruments while scenes unfolded in front of them on the stage: dancing & pranks from a jester, a dozen dancers coming & going throughout a nice long set & even some local salsa dancers invited to the stage as the Hispanic Cultural Center auditorium itself began to morph into a huge dance floor. I was lucky to discover the Son Como Son celebration at the NHCC: my neighbor Jim suggested we go--he is one of the (only 2?) trombonists in the often 11-member band. What an fantastic experience is was watching him play! Now I see him in that groovy big band context, as opposed to his casually biking past me mornings on his way to work. The band plays regularly at The Cooperage, a landmark Albuquerque restaurant serving steaks & more for over 40 years; dancers come from miles around to experience Son Como Son almost every weekend. They are another reason why I love this city.
The NHCC "presents over 700 events & creates the opportunity for thousands more through its art museum, library, genealogy center & educational resources."
Photo opportunities abound at the NHCC. Below are two images of the Aztec Pyramid from before & after the Son Como Son 25th anniversary celebration. The pyramid is another cool architectural item to see at the NHCC.
