Nelson Bello
Summer Concert Series At Connecticut’s Old State House Farmer’s Market
Hartford
June 5, 2026
For some, Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer. But to me, it’s not really summertime until the music starts at the Old State House.
I was there for the opening performance of the 2026 Summer Concert Series, which occurs alongside a farmer’s market with various vendors and information booths. This year’s opening act was Nelson Bello, a Hartford native who has made his name as a world-class percussionist and performed with some of the most famous Puerto Rican singers of the last quarter century.
Readers with a sharp memory may remember that I mentioned Bello in another review of a steel and hand drum concert at Trinity College. He was supporting the kids then, and graciously allowed them to shine. But Friday afternoon, with a crew of seasoned veterans at his side, Bello and his band made the courtyard sizzle. His band includes Marcos Torres on percussion, Hommy Ramos on trombone, Benny Velazquez on bass and Carlos Gomez on keyboard.
The Bello band brought their unique take on Latin jazz, a melodic sound that emphasizes harmony and movement, to downtown Hartford. Bello’s conga drum playing was hypnotizing, switching seamlessly from background rhythm to lead instrument, stepping into the forefront not by being louder than the other instruments, but by twisting the rhythm and tempo just enough to stand out from the rest of the band.
Gomez’s keyboarding provided most of the melody for the performance. At times it was as if he was painting a picture with the notes of the keyboard as his brush, and the rest of the band as his canvas. Then Velazquez hit a particularly funky baseline, and the band responded with the enthusiasm of a great jam session. Ramos carried the melody when Gomez stepped into the background, giving the instrument a warm, enveloping sound that expanded throughout the courtyard. Torres’ percussion on snare was a great compliment to Bello’s congas.
Aside from the obvious skill of Bello and his bandmates, what made the music so great was the way the band enjoyed themselves. They were constantly smiling and laughing, talking to each other while jamming. At one point, Bello reached over and hit the perfect note on Gomez’s keyboard, and he barely blinked.
It was a casual approach to the performance, but it wasn’t cavalier. Their comfort with the music and each other comes from decades of playing together, and honing their crafts as individuals. It’s not nervous laughter or bemusement at mistakes. It’s the confidence of people who are enjoying both what they’re doing, and how good they are at it.
Summertime is officially here, brought to you by Nelson Bello and his band. It was a great opening performance, and I’m looking forward to seeing who performs for the rest of the summer.
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The Summer Concert Series takes place every Friday at noon at the Old State House on Main Street in Hartford.
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