REVIEW: Juan Luis Guerra brings ‘Todo Tiene Su Hora’ tour to NYC
NEW YORK — Juan Luis Guerra and his awesome band 440 brought a mixture of Latin sounds to a sold-out concert at The Theater at Madison Square Garden Friday night, Sept. 18. The show, featuring more than 20 songs, included old favorites and new tunes off Guerra’s latest album, Todo Tiene Su Hora.
The concert kicked off shortly after 9 p.m. with the infectiously rousing “Cookies and Cream,” a near-perfect tune featuring catchy lyrics and a fast, energizing beat. The Dominican singer, who is a solid purveyor of merengue, bachata and salsa, knows how to get the crowd into the performance. They danced for most of the two hours, always happy to keep the show pulsating. 440, featuring more than a dozen musicians and backup singers, provided ample accompaniment throughout the evening. From the brass section to the many percussionists, the band kept the energy skyrocketing. The two backup singers, who also provided dance move suggestions for most of the evening, galvanized the crowd as well.
The setlist relied much on the new album, which seemed perfectly fine to the swaying audience. From “Tus Besos,” a bachata ode to the doo-wop era, to “Para Que Sepas,” the new entries sat nicely among the classics, which included “Ojalá Que Llueva Café.”
Halfway through the show, Guerra left the stage and let 440 offer some dancing moves and percussion solos. Upon returning, the singer launched into “La Guagua” and “El Niagra en Bicicleta.” Several of these songs were matched with stylized displays of the lyrics, and a telephone booth allowed Guerra to add a little theatricality to the set.
The singer, wearing his iconic hat, vest and long sleeves, sometimes couldn’t help himself from breaking out into some rhythmic moves. He kept the talking to a minimum, although he called out the many countries of Central and South America to honor the heritage of the various concertgoers. Other than that, it was bachata, merengue and Latin beats all night long.
A lengthy encore included a medley of favorites, each one stirring the audience’s memories. Guerra has so many hits to choose from, he easily filled the evening with nostalgia and novelty. As a performer, he’s extremely giving, instigating the fans to jump, dance and sway their arms from left to right. The Theater at Madison Square Garden provided the space for a two-hour celebration of a music icon’s impressive history.
The Todo Tiene Su Hora tour returns to New York City in February. It’s a must-see ticket from a must-see performer.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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