The foremost plena group in New York, Los Pleneros de la 21, joins resistance singer Taína Asili to explore the political meaning of plena in conjunction with her own original protest songs.

Los Pleneros de la 21 (LP21) was founded in 1983 by Juan J. ‘Juango’ Gutiérrez (National Endowment for the Arts’ Heritage Fellow, 1996) and the legendary Master Plenero, Marcial Reyes Arvelo. The ensemble originated under the common goal to promote the importance and beauty of traditional Puerto Rican music and dance to the masses. The ensemble has pioneered the road for bomba and plena performance around NYC, and continues to spread it globally. After more than 35 years of performances and a Grammy nomination for their groundbreaking album, Para Todos Ustedes, LP21 remains the dynamic family and intergenerational group of musicians and cultural leaders from East Harlem, the South Bronx and many of NYC’s own
local communities.

Bronx Arts Ensemble
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