“La Marqueta Music March” celebrates East Harlem’s rich heritage of both Puerto Rican and African-American music and culture with a unique fusion between a traditional holiday season “parranda” — a music parade rooted in Plena and Bomba music styles — and a second line jazz march.

The parranderos will be anchored by members of the renowned ensemble Los Pleneros de la 21 (LP21), led by the organization’s founder Juan J. ‘Juango’ Gutiérrez and accompanied by students from LP21, and joined by saxophonist and Blue Note recording artist Immanuel Wilkins and friends.

The music march will launch from the southern end of the covered La Marqueta at Park Avenue and E 111th Street (under the Metro North tracks) and slowly wend its way northward to E 115th Street for the finale, making stops along the way at various Harlem Night Market vendors (@harlemnightmarket). Free Puerto Rican style hot chocolate and a limited supply of hand-held percussion instruments will be given away to fans during the finale, which will be followed by an additional set by Immanuel Wilkins and friends.    

Presented in partnership with Metropolis Ensemble  and Uptown Grand Central.