The death of Cuban conga master Carlos "Patato" Valdes this past December provides a sad opportunity to dig out one of his best-known recordings — which also happens to be a groundbreaking piece of ...

Each weekend, dancers stoked on music and alcohol sway to the old hits on the decrepit rooftop terrace of Kinshasa's venerable La Creche bar like little has changed in the Congolese capital since the ...

Catalina Maria Johnson returns to World Cafe for a segment about a unique cultural blend. Latin Roots: Cuban Rumba Chicago-based journalist Catalina Maria Johnson hosts the 15th installment of World ...

Rumba, a potent, percussion-driven blend of African and Spanish influences, emerged as a distinctive tradition in late 19th-century Cuba, providing the template for much of the island’s popular music ...

Tata Guines, 77, a conga drummer who helped popularize Afro-Cuban rhythms worldwide, died Monday outside Havana after being hospitalized for hypertension and kidney problems. Known as the “King of the ...

We all knew vocalist Rubén Blades knew his way around the clave, the rhythmic pattern that propels the Afro-Cuban dance music he's known for. But I bet you didn't know he could swing a big band jazz ...

From Rumba to rap, Paris-based writer Maya Roy surveys the history of Cuban music, showing how the island's colonial history led to a unique fusion of musical influences from around the world. Cuban ...

Ensemble Arts Philly presents the dynamic and legendary ensemble band, Afro-Cuban All Stars, at the Miller Theater on Oct. 19. The Afro-Cuban All Stars, led by Juan de Marcos, are known for their ...