African groups in Cuba, which Sublette traces to four distinct regions on the dark continent, kept a lot of their culture and traditions intact through the formation of cabildos, something like 'town ...

The Mambo Kings of Orquesta Akokan. Pepito Gomez and Jacob Plasse are second and third from left, back row. Credit: Photo by Adrien H. Tillmann/Courtesy of JP Cutler Media If you ever want a test of ...

Listening to this recording is similar to having a knowledgeable friend spin some tunes that fit together in many likely though not necessarily expected ways. It is a “mix tape” of sorts that features ...

Latin music is one of music’s most diverse, influential, and exciting genres. Its roots come from traditional African music that, along with its people, made its way to Havana, New Orleans, and ...

Ry Cooder’s 1997 collaboration with a group of septuagenarian Cuban musicians, Buena Vista Social Club, sold 8 million copies and earned a Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. It also earned ...

Victor Parra was a Chicago-area radio host, musician and bandleader who championed Afro-Cuban jazz music as the host of his weekly radio show, “Mambo Express,” on both WBEZ-FM and WDCB-FM. Parra was ...

A sixty minute film presentation of rare and unusual Cuban music footage from Son, Rumba & Afro Cuban Jazz from 1929 to 1960's, followed by a discussion with host and audience. This film presentation ...

There are unlimited reasons to love Cuban music, but what draws me the most is the relentless, resilient joy at its heart. The island’s grooves have a century-long history of sparking international ...

Don’t Miss a Moment. Join 30,000 locals who stay current on San Antonio news, culture, and events. Get our free newsletters in your inbox three times a week. The passing of Israel López “Cachao,” the ...

SARAH WILLIS first visited Havana in February 2017. She was working in Miami with the New World Symphony Orchestra and figured she may as well take the hour-long flight across the Strait of Florida, ...

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As the cofounder of the important Cuban music label Qbadisc and coproducer of public radio's Afropop Worldwide, Sublette is a well-known figure among elite mambo aficionados. Still, the sheer size and ...