Bomba Estereo blows up the floor

Ask the average person in North America about Latin Dance music and they might mention tropical salsa or merengue, or regional Mexican music.

The uninitiated likely would be surprised by the blend of folkloric music, electronica and international beats employed by some of Latin America's most innovative bands.

But in recent years, such creative fusion has become prevalent in Latin alternative music, as musicians infuse the traditional rhythms of their homelands with international influences.

The result is infectious and description-defying music that is certain to lure dancers to the floor, a mix the Colombian group Bomba Estereo brings to The Cedar cultural center tonight.

In Bomba Estereo, fans will encounter a forward-looking group that fuses cumbia and other Colombian rhythms with DJ Wizardry, guitar echoes, reggae beats and rap. The group includes DJ and bassist Simon Mejia, guitarist Julian Salazar, drummer Kike Egurrola and singer and rapper Liliana Saumet.

After a successful tour a couple of years ago to promote Blow Up, a spectacular recording of multiple rhythms, the group is now performing numbers from its latest CD, Pajaros.

The secret of its success lies in the African and indigenous rhythms from Colombia's Atlantic and Caribbean coasts -- a mixture that captures the simplicity and depth of rich folkloric music with enough modern hooks and thumping beats to captivate young fans.

It makes you want to listen, and dance.

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