Ricardo Lemvo has established himself as a pioneer with his exhilarating music combining Latin and African elements from salsa to soukous. This Congo-born artist of Angolan ancestry is the embodiment of the Afro-Latin Diaspora, which connects back to Africa via the Cuban clave rhythm. Lemvo is truly multi-cultural and equally at home singing in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Lingala, and Kikongo. The concert will open with a special set by Destani Wolf. Wolf is a veteran of the Bobby McFerrin offshoot, a cappella group SoVoSo, and also fronts the path-breaking Bay Area ensemble Agualibre (formerly O-Maya), whose R&B, rap, ska, soca, DJ sampling and Latin folkloric experiments made the most of Wolf's alternately smoky, soaring mezzo-soprano.

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Made possible, in part, by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; the James Irvine Foundation, and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. Media sponsors KPFK 90.7 FM and "Los Angeles Downtown News."

2007 1st & Central Summer Concerts schedule
June 28 - Prelude: Enzo Avitabile and Bottari
July 12 - Southern California Ukelele Showcase
July 26 - San Jose Taiko
August 2 - Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca
August 9 - For Alice with Love: Celebrating the Music of Alice Coltrane
September 13 - Celso Duarte and Sonex