After being kidnapped by the secret police, Alex Alvear decided he'd had enough and fled Ecuador with $70 in his pocket. Two decades later in Boston, he's bandleader of two heralded Afro-Latin groups, the jazzy Mango Blue and percussive Manguito (right). Now Alvear hopes to open a door to the Ecuadoran musical heritage he left behind with "Equatorial." The CD explores indigenous folk, Andean, and Spanish roots through cascading grooves, acoustic melodies, and sweet harmonies. Tonight, Alvear will be joined by 12 musicians, including singer Marta Gomez and violinist Roberto Cachimuel, plus Ecuadoran ensemble Yarina. 8 p.m. $20, Center for Latino Arts, 85 West Newton St., Boston, 617-927-1707. claboston.org [Tristram Lozaw]
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