~by Dena Burroughs

JUAN LUIS GUERRA Y LA 440 AT THE NOKIA THEATER - Aug 3, 2008

   The impressive Nokia Theater was lit up and ready on Sunday evening for a concert much awaited for in Los Angeles - Juan Luis Guerra y la 440 (read it as: cuatro cuarenta).  On an enormous screen backing the stage the audience first saw a plane arrive and, as if they had just stepped out of it, seconds later la 440 made its entrance into their only performance in Los Angeles as part of the La Travesia Tour.  A minute later, Juan Luis Guerra, all 6' 6 3/4" of him, wearing a black Kangol hat, blue jeans, a white shirt, and a leather jacket, walked on stage, and the crowd stood on its feet.

   Ojala Que Llueva Cafe, Burbujas De Amor, Si Tu No Bailas Conmigo, La Bilirrubina, in fact, a long parade of hits, with even one song out of his Christian album, were done beautifully by a solid sounding 440, directed by pianist Yanina Rosado [girl power!], in a two hour concert that truthfully felt much shorter.  Half way into the concert, Juan Luis Guerra stepped off stage to allow his group to shine, first with a medley in the voices of his three back up singers, and second, with an instrumental by la 440, plus a show of the dance abilities of its percussionists. [L.A. has Chino with los trombones bailadores, and Juan Luis Guerra has los percusionistas bailadores de la 440!]

   The Nokia Theater is a fabulous venue.  The stage lighting must be every photographer's dream, and the screen work behind the band added a visual feast to an impeccable sound.  When it was time to say good bye, Juan Luis Guerra walked up and to the back of the stage, next to his trumpet players.  He opened and lifted his arms, waving with each hand to his screaming fans in a preacher-like gesture.  Then, to the audience' surprise, the platform on which he stood slowly lowered him away from their eyes, until he disappeared completely, like our star at sunset.  Like Enrique Iglesias would have said... Fue Casi Una Experiencia Religiosa.

LOS PERCUSIONISTAS BAILADORES DE JUAN LUIS GUERRA

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