Long's Park sizzled with Havana heat Sunday night when Sammy Figuera and his Latin Jazz Explosion detonated in front of a crowd of 2,500.

Concert-goers were treated to a fiery performance that included songs from the Grammy-nominated albums "And Sammy Walked In" and "The Magician."

Under the stage's colorful lights, the keyboard, guitar, saxophone and trumpet formed a melodic rhythm as Figuera stole the show with his rapid-fire conga drums.

"It gets you moving, wanting to dance," said Robert Irizarry of Denver.

Irizarry, originally from Puerto Rico, visited the park with his family, who share a love of Latin music, especially salsa and reggatone.

They heard the saxophone scream as the band moved into a 1958 tune Figuera recalled from his neighborhood in Brooklyn.

"When you grow up in the 'hood, that's the kind of thing you hear out the window," he told the audience.

"I knew I wanted to do that."

Stella Sexton, director of Long's Park's summer music series, pointed to the storied career of the musician.

"He's very well-known," she said. "He's worked with a lot of performers," including Mariah Carey, Miles Davis, Blues Traveler, David Bowie, Celine Dion and Mick Jagger.

He also appears as the percussionist on Sister Sledge's "We are Family."

But that wasn't what had the little ones up dancing.

"We love any kind of music," Laura Heverling said, after twirling in front of the stage with her daughters.

The youngest, Olivia, 3, was a dizzying display of spinning polka-dots.

"It's exciting to hear something fun and relaxing," Heverling said.

Even the fireflies seemed to be swaying along.

"It has a strong Caribbean element," said Jared Erb, a guitar player from Lancaster.

"It's slightly off rhythm, fast, upbeat. It make's you want to two-step."

"It's like a hiccup," added his friend, Travis Hildebrand.

Hildebrand is a regular at the summer concerts at the park, which was holding its eighth of 13 weekly shows.

"Every week you come here, you may not be into that genre of music, but these people are musicians," he said.

"You can go to a Justin Bieber concert and catch some pop hits, but these are real musicians."

The sometimes slower, jazzy tunes accelerated toward the finale, bringing about 20 swinging couples to the stage and leaving the bandmates mopping their brows.

But some were content just to watch the action.

"We're outdoors, under the stars and sky listening to great music," Cynthia Eder said.

"It's a nice way to end the weekend."

Blowing in next week from the Windy City are the West Side Winders, a rockabilly group. Performance is at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

dmartin@lnpnews.com