Mondongo Combo to perform in Springfield

Date: 2/21/2011

SPRINGFIELD — The Mondongo Combo will appear live in concert in Robyn Newhouse Hall at the Community Music School of Springfield on March 10 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is part of the continuing Bravo! Concert series, which features both faculty members of the Community Music School, as well as guest artists, in an array of different musical styles.

The Mondongo Combo features Messbauer on trombone and Maximo Rodriguez on bass. Jim Messbauer is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in music performance, trombone.

He has toured extensively and is the co-founder of several Latin and brass groups. He also coaches the Charles Majid Greenlee Student Jazz Ensemble at the Community Music School.

Maximo Rodriguez was born in Puerto Rico and began playing percussion instruments at a very young age. At age 9, his family moved to Springfield where he made friends with guitarist Rafael Torres who introduced Maximo to chords. From then on, he knew strings were his musical passion.

A renowned bass player, he has recently been performing with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

They will join together for one night of incredible music, which they describe as a synthesis of Latin music and jazz known as "chamber mambo" featuring original compositions and familiar pieces.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; students and seniors pay $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Please see the Web site, www.communitymusicschool.com, for additional information or call (413) 732-8428. Parking is free in the Community Music School's Stockbridge Street lot.

The Bravo! Concert Series is generously supported by the MassMutual Financial Group.