Frank and Pilar Leto met over 30 years ago at a Carnaval parade in San Francisco, and they've been celebrating Carnaval ever since. Notably, with a joyful show they stage every February in Albuquerque, featuring Frank's big band, PANdemonium, and Pilar's dance ensemble, Odara. This year, their celebration spills over into June with two outdoor concerts, on the 7th in the Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater and the 13th at the Albuquerque BioPark.
The concerts will feature Carnaval music and dance from Trinidad, Cuba, Brazil and New Orleans. "We are students," says percussionist, composer and educator Frank Leto. "I've been a student of all those styles of music and the rhythms, and what makes them unique. And Pilar has been a student of the styles of dance and the costumes they wear. And throughout our life that's what we try to do -- share what we learn with the community."
In this longer version of the interview, Frank talks about the local musicians who will be performing with PANdemonium in the June Carnaval concerts.
