Walt Adams:
Star Radio Sunday, Jazz Brunch, time once again for the Power of Potential with AIM Services, supporting people with traumatic brain injury and disabilities. Each week I get the chance to talk to the Executive Director, Chris Lyons. Good morning, Chris.
Chris Lyons:
Good Sunday morning, Walt. It is springtime. I think the official first day of spring is today.
Walt Adams:
You are correct, sir. The spring equinox for the Northern Hemisphere is today.
Chris Lyons:
Awesome. The birds are chirping and the grass is starting to come out. It’s getting greener and it just lifts up your spirits. This is going to be a great spring and in Saratoga it’s going to be great summer. And we’ve got a big event coming up.
Walt Adams:
Carnival at Vapor on April 2nd, and we are doing well. If you are looking to go, you need to hurry up and get your ticket because we’re getting down to the final tickets, right?
Chris Lyons:
It really is happening quickly, Walt. And there was recently some social media posts about some of the signature events in Saratoga, and at the top of the list is our April 2nd Carnival. And I think people are just anxious to get out and start to reconnect. And this is going to be an opportunity to do so in such a creative and spectacular fashion. We’ve got incredible food, an incredible site with a newly renovated Vapor, a theme, which is a Brazilian and Carnival inspired, and just an opportunity to be festive and colorful, creative outfits. Everybody’s talking about masks and new dresses, and I know you’ve got your tutu. It’s just exciting to have everybody in the community say, hey, can’t wait to see you at the Carnival. And of course, most importantly to you and I, it’s going to support people with challenges to do things they might not ordinarily be able to do.
Walt Adams:
Two words, a great gathering for a good cause is what Saratoga is famous for. And now this AIM event will be a signature event we hope for many, many years to come, bringing people together for this important cause. And certainly a way to ignite the party is Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra.
Chris Lyons:
What an electrifying band, great music. You cannot sit in your chair when Alex starts to heat up, whether you can dance or not. I’m not a particularly good dancer, but it’s hard to sit still when he gets everyone moving. It’s going to be a wonderful evening. I know that he’s excited.
Walt Adams:
And he is our special guest this week. He’s going to join us here in just a moment.
Chris Lyons:
I know you’ll be emceeing. I plan on making a few remarks. We’ve got a great new short video called, See Me, that will be unveiling in person at this event. Great music, great food. Vapor is a great spot and all our friends will be there.
Walt Adams:
Yes, really looking forward to seeing you soon.
Chris Lyons:
Work on your Cha-cha.
Walt Adams:
Okay. You got it.
Chris Lyons:
Take care my friend.
Walt Adams:
The band leader of Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra, Alex Torres. Alex, good morning.
Alex Torres:
Good morning. How are you?
Walt Adams:
We are so excited about you being a part of a very special event coming up on April 2nd at Vapor. You must be happy to get back on stage again due to all the shutdown we had for the past couple years.
Alex Torres:
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I’ll tell you what, it’s not only therapeutic for us, but therapeutic for everybody else as well because our fans are always looking forward to our events, dance, music, and the Caribbean flare. And I’m sure I’m not the only artist. I’m pretty sure I can speak for all of them. Everyone is happy that everything is opening up again.
Walt Adams:
Yes, indeed. And it allows people to get out together for a good time and a good cause.
Alex Torres:
It’s a good cause where they support the people with developmental intellectual disabilities. And we’re fortunate to live in a region with so many awesome people that are willing to participate and give a helping hand by purchasing tickets and sort of events such as these.
Walt Adams:
Yes. And one of the great things, Alex, on this one, when everybody found out that you were going to be a part of the event, tickets are selling fast.
Alex Torres:
So the event is already, without me being on stage, it’s already a success, which is awesome.
Walt Adams:
You bring several musicians together to create a sound that is just fun, and it’s a great example of Carnival.
Alex Torres:
Yes. I mean, I think that many people are familiar with Mambo and Cha-cha, it’s our career music, mainly from the Islands of Cuba, the Merengues from the Dominican Republic, and other visuals of Puerto Rico. Great, great musicians on trumpet, trombone, saxophone. We have the Afro Caribbean percussion, congas, bongos, cymbals, our singer, piano, the guitars, and myself on base. So we all come from different backgrounds and it’s interesting because music is a universal language, as we all know. So our music is very danceable. We just want everybody to have a really good time. You really can’t sit still.
Walt Adams:
Sounds so good. If someone wanted to find out more information on how to book you, what’s the best way to get ahold of you?
Alex Torres:
You can go visit our website, which is very simple. It’s alextorres.com.
Walt Adams:
All right, well, thank you so much. Look forward to the party.
Alex Torres:
You got it my friend. All the best to you and your listeners. Have a good one.
Walt Adams:
Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra, April 2nd at Vapors. To find out how you can get some of the remaining tickets that are available or to find out more information about the services that AIM provides or to join the Aim Team, go to aimservicesinc.org for the power of potential.