The bolero-happy Puerto Rican sextet Miramar descended upon Barbès earlier this week. Stream the whole show for free right here.

Before You Press Play

Hometown: Puerto Rico

The Facts: As a group, Miramar may be less than a year old – but as songwriters and arrangers, they have classic taste. Formed in the spring of 2009, the coed sextet finds its inspiration in the Puerto Rican boleros of the mid-twentieth century. At the center of their sound are pianist Marlysse Aragandona Simmons and vocalist Reinaldo Alvarez (who first made their names in the acclaimed salsa band Bio Ritmo), with additional singing from the aptly named Laura Ann Singh, an up-and-coming vocal talent.

The Sound: Nostalgic melodies and intricate harmonies, sung in the duo style that defined bolero in the 1950s and '60s.

Latest Release: Para Siempre, due later this year.

A Word from the Artist: "What moves me about boleros is the impossibility of an actual true love, the futility of this great passion. You end up at the bar having a drink, wondering if anything's worth it. These are the songs that really move me." – Reinaldo Alvarez (from an interview on WCVE Public Radio)