New Orleans-based group The Tropicales opened the 2024-25 season of the Harker Concert Series on Friday with a sound inspired by the music of the Caribbean and forged in the Crescent City. Bandleader and trombonist Charlie Halloran led the band through such highlights as rendition of the Henri Debs beguine classic “Douce Kombass,” which highlighted the talents of drummer Jafet Perez and percussionist Cesar Bacaro, and the playful “El Vagabundo,” which prominently featured Halloran’s trombone on its fun-loving melody. The music elicited spirited dancing from concertgoers throughout the evening, and a thundering ovation after Perez’s closing drum solo on “Cuando.”

In the days leading up to the concert, members of the Tropicales also met with Harker music students at a series of masterclasses, providing their professional insights and musical knowledge as a supplement to their daily learning as well as guided jam sessions.

The next Harker Concert Series event takes place Fri., Nov. 8, featuring violinist Nancy Zhou of the San Francisco Conservatory.