We're talking tango tonight

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The sweet and sexy sounds of tango will fill the air at Huntington’s Heckscher Park tonight as New York City-based band Grupo Greg Ribot dances into town.

The energetic concert, which is part of the town’s 42nd Annual Summer Arts Festival, will feature original and traditional tango and folkloric music with dance accompaniment. It will be the group’s first show in Huntington since playing at the town festival in 2005.

“They’re a really interesting group,” explained Diane Matus, public relations and development assistant for the Huntington Arts Council, which is producing the event. “This act appeals to both adults and children.”

Grupo Greg Ribot is the brainchild of composer and arranger Gregory Ribot, who constructs the band’s intimate rhythms using saxophone, clarinet, flute and panpipes. During his career, he’s produced three CDs and toured Japan, while also scoring a number of movie soundtracks. His most recent album, “Cumbria Y Mas,” was released in 2003.

Meanwhile, his lead guitarist Francisco “Pancho” Navarro has recorded with an array of Argentine musicians, including Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco. He also performed all guitars on the 2002 movie, “Frida,” which starred Salma Hayek.

“They’ve really done a lot musically,” said Matus, noting that admission is free.

The music and dancing kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Heckscher Park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington. The group is also hosting a “Meet the Artist” event at Huntington Public Library’s in Huntington Station at 2 this afternoon. For more info, call the Huntington Arts Council at 631-271-8423 or visit huntingtonarts.org.