‘L.A. Salsa Festival’ at Universal

Lovers of Latin music will get a treat Saturday night when the “L.A. Salsa Festival” hits the Universal Amphitheatre. The one-night musica celebration is one of several stops--New York, Miami, Madrid and Mexico City are some of the cities visited on the tour--for a troupe that includes the “Queen of Salsa,” singer Celia Cruz, and the legendary bandleader/percussionist Tito Puente.

Among the other performers are Ismael Miranda, Ray de la Paz, Tito Nieves, Cheo Feliciano, Jose Alberto and Millie P.

Both Puente and Cruz, each with more than 40 years in the music industry, are well known to Southern California salsa cognescenti. Cruz, a singer with amazing gusto who made a brief appearance in the movie “Salsa,” plays the Southland occasionally, while Puente has become almost a regular here, often performing on bills with Poncho Sanchez.

Miranda is a favorite of salsa fans with his unique voice style, while Nieves is a versatile singer who blends romantic ballads with salsa. Singer Millie P., sentimental vocalist Feliciano and the others will add to the variety of salsa styles heard on the Universal program, for which some tickets are still available.