Magdelys Savigne and Elizabeth Rodríguez on their new album: "OKANTOMI." Afro Cuban roots, jazz and more ..read more

Cuban born and trained Cosette Justo Valdés is the conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Island Symphony. With guest host Xenia Reloba de la Cruz (University of Calgary), we talk about classical music education in Cuba, and what a Cuban conductor brings to this genre. “We make music in ways that express how we live life. It’s always important to find the flavour in things ..read more

What is it like to be a Cuban migrant musician in Canada today? Singer Guillermo Quesada, pianist Willie Barreto and trumpet player Diango Vives speak to us about the Cuba they left and the Canada they entered ..read more

Cuban musicians in Montreal are part of a tight knit multicultural community of players, some of whom can be seen every Monday night at Diese Onze, a basement jazz club with a hint of a Havana vibe. Part 1 of this episode features interviews with Alex Bellegarde, Rachel Therrien, Nestor Rodríquez, Díomer Gonzalez, Michel Medrano, Javier Muñoz, Adam Goulet and commentary about Montreal’s Latino music scene from Claudio Palomares-Salas and Ximena Holuigue ..read more

Cuban Music on Canada's East Coast. Dee Hernandez has been making Cuban music since moving from Havana to New Brunswick in 1998. Plus a conversation with jazz sax player Jeff Goodspeed about the long-standing Halifax based Los Primos musical exchange project between Canada and Cuba ..read more

In this episode we speak with saxophonist Luis Deniz about his recent Juno nominated album El Tinajón. This hauntingly beautiful work features a great mix of Cuban-Canadian and Canadian players. Luis speaks about his move to Canada and his perceptions of music making in two very different countries ..read more

In this episode, we continue to explore Cuban music in western Canada. This time, in Banff, Alberta. Guest host Melissa Noventa explores ¡Afrocubanismo!, an un paralleled festival that brought the biggest names in Afrocuban Culture to Canada in 1994 and 1996. You will hear from festival co-ordinator Andres Schloss and musical co-ordinator Michael Spiro. You will also hear from Cuban faculty members including dancer and singer Ana Perez from Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, along with Antonio Figueroa and Ramses Zamora Molina from Afrocuba de Matanzas. Toronto-based musicians and producers Mario All ..read more

Is there a Cuban-Canadian sound? Alex Cuba has, since 1999, made an extremely successful career in Canada by, as he puts it, “living in the present not the past.” Alex speaks to us about the sound he created from his home base in Smithers, British Columbia, how and why was transformed from Alexis Puentes to Alex Cuba, and how a torn passport sent him on a musical journey. Alex, who recently added a Grammy to a long list of awards, will receive an honorary degree from Queen’s University in October ..read more

In this episode we continue exploring the history of Lula Lounge, one of the most important venues in Toronto for Cuban, Latin and non-Western music. We also consider the importance of dance at Lula. The episode includes interviews with José Ortega, Luis Orbegoso, Tracy Jenkins, Klive Walker and Melissa Noventa and music by Changüi Habana, Yani Borrell, Roberto Linares Brown, Alberto Alberto and Freddy McGregor ..read more

With this episode we depart, a little bit, from the path we’ve been following. We’ve been tracing Cuban music in Canada historically over the decades, from the 1940s. This episode features one musician, pianist Hilario Durán, who many regard as the most significant Cuban musician in Canada, past or present. Fortunately, he’s still an extremely active presence in Toronto. This episode features exclusive interviews with Roberto Occhipinti and Jane Bunnett, just two of many Canadian musicians who sing his praises after many years of collaboration ..read more