Mambo Legends jazz music coming to Lehman Center for Performing Arts

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts opens its 2023-24 season with The Mambo Legends Orchestra, Lucrecia and Nelson Gonzalez with the Del Caribe Latin Jazz All-Stars Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Led by former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, the concert has ties to such other Grammy award-winning music greats as Celia Cruz, Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan and Eddie Palmieri.

The Mambo Legends was created in 2000 by former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, led by John “Dandy” Rodriquez, Mitch Frohman and musical director Jose Madera. Bronx native Frohman was the sax and flute soloist with the Tito Puente Orchestra for 25 years

Lucrecia was born in Cuba, where she studied music and piano at El Instituto Superior de Arte. She later joined the all-female orchestra Anacaona and contributed to the soundtrack for the Oscar-nominated film “Balseros.”

Her album “Album de Cuba” was produced with the collaboration of Celia Cruz and Andy Garcia.

Nelson Gonzalez, leader of the Del Caribe Latin Jazz All-Stars, was born in Puerto Rico and immigrated to New York in the 1960s. He learned how to play the tres, which was lent to him by Andy Gonzalez. Musicologist René López taught him how to play the instrument. Nelson went on to play in the Larry Harlow Orchestra. He is also featured on five Grammy-award winning albums from Estefan, Puente and Palmieri.

Tickets for the event are VIP, $100, $85, $65, $40, $35. They can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (718) 960-8833. The Lehman Center is accessible by the No. 4 or D trains to Bedford Park Boulevard and the Saw Mill River Parkway and Major Deegan Expressway.

Lehman Center is supported, in part, by public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx delegation. Additional funding is provided by the New York state Council on the Arts with support from the governor and Legislature. Goya Foods has renewed its sponsorship to expand outreach to the community.