Interviews

Speaking with someone you have idolized for years is never an easy task. So it was with some trepidation that I dialed Poncho Sanchez’s telephone number and held my breath. When he answered the telephone we exchanged pleasantries and he quickly informed that he could only give me 15 minutes of his time. Somewhat disappointed, I pressed on and lo and behold, an hour and a half later we were still on the telephone! [...]

“Music is about freedom, that’s what it proposes, that’s why it’s so popular and that’s why people love it. And it’s not freedom that...

As part of the Royal Conservatory 2012-2013 Season, ¡Qué Rica Cuba! Series, "Tiempo Libre" makes an appearance at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Saturday,...

Essential Albums: Mark Weinstein's Cuban Roots and Cuban Roots Revisited The following is an excerpt from an interview I conducted with Mark Weinstein in 2006....

"Latin jazz is one of the few distinct art forms the USA has given the world. Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye's new CD give us...

Andy González On "Entre Colegas/Among Colleagues Interview Conducted by Truth Revolution Recording Collective TRR: Who did you choose for Entre Colegas and why? Andy González: I...

Basilio Serrano is the Author of Puerto Rican Pioneers in Jazz - 1900-1939 - Bomba Beats to Latin Jazz Jazzdelapena: According to your book, many...

“Edsel Gómez’s Road to Udaipur is a sumptuously laid out album. Not only is the package bursting with myriad colors, but so is the...

Irakere was Cuba’s invention to enable the Cuban scene to compete with the international rock music development. The innovative band became a great success and won a Grammy in the 70s. The Cuban state cut the success tour when it forced the group to cancel their concerts in the US in favour of local events. The founders Chucho Valdés, Cuba’s most famous pianist until today, and Oscar Valdés, percussionist and singer, are two of Cuba’s [...]

Conga player and percussionist Jorge Luis Torres “Papiosco” was born in Havana City in 1969 He began to play Cuban percussion as a 3 years...

Interview: In Conversation with Percussionist, Composer, Arranger, Educator Victor Rendón Based out of Lehman College in the Bronx and led by percussionist, composer, and arranger,...

Alex Conde was born into a family of artists indigenous to Spain. His father, Alejandro Conde, is a superstar singer in the style of “Cancion Española.”

For the past two Tuesdays, I have been stopping by at Minton’s on 118th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, in the heart of Harlem...

In Conversation with Director, Co-Producer, Co-Scriptwriter, Editor and Cinematographer Andrea Zapata-Girau on the U.S. Premiere of Guitarra de Palo Andrea Zapata-Girau studied classical guitar in...

A couple of weeks after receiving a well deserved homage by the Puerto Rico Senate, I sat down with Puerto Rican guitar legend and...

It is three days before my scheduled interview with the musician and pianist Elio Villafranca. I have long been fascinated by his ferocious talent...

"The Y is a first rank cultural institution, and it’s an honor and a privilege to help them with this new festival, and hopefully serve as a bridge..."

Manuel Valera: The wunderkind of the New Musical Express on music and life Although it may not have happened that way, pianist Manuel Valera seems...

Dafnis Prieto - Biography A classically trained musician who absorbed from an early age the multifaceted percussive traditions of his native Cuba, Prieto transposes elements...

The reason I am focusing on Pedrito is that "Timbasa" is as much his project as it is mine. He co-produced the recording and set things up in response to a funny challenge. I ran into him somewhere and he asked me when we were going to collaborate on another project. Sort of goofing on him I said, "Find me a piano player and a bass player who are as good as you and bring a couple of drummers." I had no idea what he was going to deal me! [...]