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Cuban NYC

Cuban NYC is centered in Union City, New Jersey.

Cuba is the sacred heart of Latin culture in the Americas. Havana was the center of colonial Spanish power in the Americas. Whatever happened in Cuba, spread across the Spanish-speaking world, including back to Spain. That is still true.

Cuban Rumba is one of the taproots of what we now call Latin music. Cuban Son evolved into Salsa in New York City and Timba in Cuba.

Cuban NYC News

Ongoing | Mar | Apr | May

Los Van Van featuring Alexander Abreu (Habana D’Primera) play Cuban Timba at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, May 13, 2022 at 10pm. From $70. 🇨🇺

Carmen Herrera, The 1970s: Part 1 shows the legendary Cuban abstractionist’s 1970s work at Lisson Gallery in Chelsea, Tue, May 3 – Jun 11, 2022. 🇨🇺

Caribbean NYC

Ongoing Cuban NYC

Repertorio Español, Spanish-language repertory theater, was founded by New York Cubans.

Cuban Rumba

Román Díaz plays Cuban Rumba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side most Wednesdays from 8-11pm. Díaz is one of NYC’s Rumba heavy hitters. Donation. 🇨🇺

Cuban Rumba & Timba

Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Rumba and Timba at Drom in the East Village most Thursdays at 8pm (7pm doors). $25. 🇨🇺

Cuban Jazz

Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble play Latin Jazz at Birdland in Hell’s Kitchen, Sundays at 8:30pm & 10:30pm. From $30+. 🇨🇺

Cuban Art

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Cuban NYC (King Ho Yim/Dreamstime)
Cuban NYC (King Ho Yim/Dreamstime)

Cuban New York City

Cuban NYC Calendar

March Cuban NYC

2022

Women of Latin Music

Oye Como Va is a Deborah Resto tribute to the women of Latin music at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens on Thu, Mar 31 at 7pm. $15. 🇨🇺🇵🇷

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April Cuban NYC

Blues Guitar

Mike Zito Band and Albert Castiglia play Blues guitar at the Iridium in the Times Square Theater District on Tue, Apr 12 at 8pm (6:30pm doors). $35. 🇨🇺🇮🇹

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May Cuban NYC

Contemporary Dance

The Ballet Hispánico Gala 2022 Noche Tropicana, honors Thalía with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, at The Plaza Hotel in Midtown on Mon, May 16 at 6:30 with dinner and dancing. From $1,500. 🇨🇺🇲🇽🇵🇷

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Cuba is the Sacred Heart of Latin Culture in the Americas

Cuba is the sacred heart of Latin culture in the Americas because it was Spain’s main colonial port. Whatever happened in Cuba spread across the Spanish Americas and even back to Spain (Rumba Flamenca).

In modern times, American gangsters and big business took over, so Cuba expelled the Americans which earned it great respect across Latin America.

A lot of Latin music and Latin dance is originally Cuban. Lucumí, the beautiful African Diaspora religion, is the root of many Latin music traditions. It becomes secular in Rumba. 1950s Cuban dance music evolved into Salsa in New York City, and Timba in Havana.

Previously in Cuban NYC

Raúl Cordero : Heaven is a Place in the Mind, paintings and installations on the age of distraction, is at Richard Taittinger Gallery in the Lower East Side, Mar 10 – Apr 24. richardtaittinger.com 🇨🇺

Pedrito Martinez Brings Cuban Rumba & Timba to Brooklyn

Pedrito Martinez Group 2021 (the artist)
Pedrito Martinez Group 2021 (the artist)

Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Rumba and Timba at Roulette Intermedium in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn on Sat, Apr 23 at 8pm. From $25. robertbrowningassociates.com 🇨🇺

“Rumba” means party, but is just 0ne step removed from the religious traditions where most music, dance and theatre begin. Even though it’s just a party, if you spend any time in the Rumba, you can’t help but feel its spiritual roots. It feels good, real good. It’s healing.

In Havana, Cuba, Rumba from Matanzas mixed with Changüi from Santiago and Jazz horns into Son Cubano. In New York City, Son evolved into Salsa. At the same time in Cuba, Son evolved into Timba by absorbing the bass drum and other elements from R&B and Rock. But Timba still keeps a strong Clave rhythm. It’s Latin dance music.

Pedrito isn’t a Salsero, but can take you through all the rest. The purpose of African Diaspora traditions (Latin music and dance) is to bring communities together. So when Pedrito gives the call, the community responds. He really is the world’s first-call Rumbero. This is more than a show. It’s the Pedrito Martinez Experience ~ in Brooklyn.

Dance Theatre of Harlem at the 1st City Center Dance Festival starts with a Gala Performance that includes the NY premieres of “Higher Ground” and an extended “Balamouk” by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa at New York City Center in Midtown, Tue, Apr 5 at 7pm and regular performances Fri-Sun, Apr 8-10. From $35. 🇧🇷🇨🇴🇨🇺🇭🇹🇺🇸

March 2022

Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita, Gustavo Ovalles, "Suba" (Laurent Seroussi/Robert Browning Associates)
Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita, Gustavo Ovalles, “Suba” (Laurent Seroussi/Robert Browning Associates)

Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita present their new album “Suba,” Global Music reuniting the Caribbean and Mother Africa, at Roulette Intermedium in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn on Thu, Mar 31 at 8pm. $25. robertbrowningassociates.com 🇨🇺🇸🇳🇻🇪

Join Cuban fashion and art evangelist Evan Elkowitz at the William Pérez open studio celebrating his Cuban Artists Fund residency at 208 East 51st St, 2nd Floor in Midtown East on Fri, Mar 18 from 5-8pm. startupcuba.tv 🇨🇺

Cuban trumpeter Kalí Rodriguez-Peña celebrates his “Melange” album release at The Django in Tribeca on Tue, Mar 15 from 7-9:30pm. 🇨🇺

Orquesta Broadway celebrates its 60th Anniversary with Cuban Charanga (flute, strings & percussion) for dancing at the David Rubenstein Atrium in Lincoln Center on Fri, Mar 11 at 7:30pm. FREE. 🇨🇺

Latin American Art, including a newly discovered Diego Rivera, goes on view at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center on Wed, Mar 2-10 for auction Fri, Mar 11 at 11am.
🇦🇷🇧🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴🇨🇷🇨🇺🇪🇨🇲🇽🇳🇮🇵🇪🇻🇪

Dayramir Gonzalez plays Belgian singer Mar Bel’s “Encuentro” album release party at Ideal Glass Studios in the West Village on Sun, Mar 6 at 7pm. 🇨🇺

The Big Three Palladium Orchestra is the sons of the Big Three: Tito Rodríguez Jr, Mario “Machito” Grillo and Tito Puente Jr, hosted by Joe Conzo Sr and featuring Fania All-Star and Puente’s bongo player John “Dandy” Rodríguez, at Lehman Center in Jerome Park, The Bronx on Sat, Mar 5 at 8pm. From $45. 🇨🇺🇵🇷

February 2022

Trova legend Xiomara Laugart celebrates Mi Salsa Kitchen’s 1st Anniversary with Cuban Timba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Fri, Feb 25 from 9-11pm. 🇨🇺

The 7th Neighboring Scenes Latin American film festival is in person at Film at Lincoln Center, Feb 24-28. $15 per film or $80 All-Access Pass ($20 students). 🇦🇷🇧🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴🇨🇷🇲🇽🇵🇪🇺🇾🇻🇪

Tributo a Bebo Valdés, the world premiere screening of Ricardo Bacallao’s documentary of the 2019 tribute concert by grandson Emilio Valdés, is streaming at the Cuban Cultural Center on Sat, Feb 19 at 7pm. Free. 🇨🇺

Pepito Gomez sings a Buena Vista Social Club tribute of Cuban Son at Drom in the East Village on Sun, Feb 13 at 5:30pm & 8pm. $55. 🇨🇺

Remember Carmen Herrera, legendary New York Cuban abstract artist, 1915- Feb 12, 2022. 🇨🇺

Pedrito Martinez Group 2021 (the artist)
Pedrito Martinez Group 2021 (the artist)

Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Rumba and Timba live at Harlem Stage (with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute) in Manhattanville, Harlem on Fri-Sat, Feb 11-12 at 7:30pm. From $25. 🇨🇺

January 2022

Surrealism Beyond Borders is at The Met Fifth Avenue in Central Park to Jan 30, 2022. 🇨🇺🇭🇹🇲🇶🇵🇷 | 🇦🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴 | 🇫🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸

Juan-Carlos Formell (Los Van Van) and Yambando with special guest Danae Blanco, play Cuban Timba at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Sat, Jan 29 from 9-11:30pm. $15. 🇨🇺

Malpaso Dance Company performs Cuban Contemporary Dance at The Joyce in Chelsea, Wed-Sun, Jan 19-23, 2022. From $26. 🇨🇺

Ayodele Casel: Chasing Magic brings together the Puerto Rican Tap master with live music by Cuban Jazz legend Arturo O’Farrill, at The Joyce in Chelsea, Tue-Sun, Jan 4-9, 2022. From $26. 🇵🇷🇨🇺

2021

Pedrito Martinez (Richard Termine)

Pedrito Martinez and Jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, play a “Yoruba Soy” concert at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall on Sat, Dec 4 at 7:30pm. carnegiehall.org 🇨🇺

Cuban Chinese cellist Sophia Bacelar plays a Ruiz Memorial Recital at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall on Wed, Dec 8 at 7:30pm. carnegiehall.org 🇨🇺

November 2021

Radio Free Brooklyn’s Gianluca Tremontana hosts a Changüi: The Music of Guantanamo listening event at the Pine Box Rock Shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn on Wed, Nov 17 at 8pm. Free with rsvp tickettailor.com

Daymé Arocena (Pablo Dewin/World Music Institute)

Daymé Arocena sings Cuban Jazz for the World Music Institute Women’s Voices Series at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village on Thu, Nov 11, 2021 at 8pm (7pm doors). From $25. worldmusicinstitute.org 🇨🇺

Harold López-Nussa, Grégoire Maret, Luques Curtis & Ruy López-Nussa play Cuban Timba at The Blue Note in Greenwich Village, Mon-Wed, Nov 8-10 at 8 & 10:30pm (6 & 10pm doors). From $25. 🇨🇺🇵🇷🇨🇭

Havana Film Festival New York 2021 (HFFNY)

The Havana Film Festival New York opens at Village East Cinema in the East Village on Fri, Nov 5 at 6:30pm. From $20. Grammy nominee Dayramir González plays Cuban Jazz at the Afterparty. From $85. 🇨🇺🇪🇸|🇨🇦🇬🇹🇭🇳🇲🇽🇺🇸|🇦🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴🇵🇪🇻🇪|🇬🇷🇬🇧

October 2021

Grammy winner David Oquendo & Friends play Latin Jazz at the Bronx Music Heritage Center in Foxhurst, The Bronx on Sat, Oct 30 at 2pm (1:45pm doors). FREE with reservation (917) 557-2354. @bxmusic 🇨🇺

Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Timba at Drom in the East Village on Thu, Oct 28 at 8pm (7pm doors). $30. 🇨🇺

Mambembe plays Samba/Reggae and Kikiriki Biguey plays Afro-Cuban Rumba at Drom in the East Village on Tue, Oct 26 at 8pm (7pm doors). $10. 🇧🇷🇯🇲🇨🇺

Cuban Nueva Trova legend Pablo Milanés brings his Dias de Luz Tour to The Town Hall in Midtown, Manhattan on Sat, Oct 23 at 8pm. From $45. 🇨🇺

Dayramir Gonzalez & Habana enTRANCé play Cuban Jazz at Flushing Town Hall in Flushing, Queens on Sat, Oct 23 at 7pm. $20. 🇨🇺

Remember Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa, on her birthday, Thu, Oct 21.

Issac Delgado y La Novena play Cuban Timba at Birdland in Hell’s Kitchen Tue-Sat, Oct 19-23 at 7 & 9:30pm. From $30. 🇨🇺

David Oquendo & Friends play Afro-Cuban rumba in the Bronx Music Hall Plaza outdoors at Bronx Commons on Sun, Oct 17 at 1pm. Free. Facebook @bxmusic 🇨🇺

Dance Theatre of Harlem does pop-up performances inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s sculptures in the Kusama garden at the NY Botanical Garden in The Bronx, Sat-Sun, Oct 16-17 from 2-5pm. From $25. 🇧🇷🇨🇺🇭🇹🇺🇸

Fleur Seule sings “Latin Love Songs” at Birdland in Hell’s Kitchen on Thu, Oct 14 at 8:30pm. From $20. 🇧🇷🇨🇺🇵🇷

Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at Cuban Restaurant Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Sat, Oct 2 at 11pm. 🇨🇺

Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at the Roxy Bar at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca on Sat, Oct 2 from 8-10:30pm. 🇨🇺

The Cruce de Campeones USA National Freestyle Rap Finals are at La Boom NY in Woodside, Queens on Sat, Oct 2 at 6pm. Cacha vs Yartzi is the exhibition. From $35. 🇨🇴🇨🇺🇩🇴🇪🇨🇬🇹🇲🇽|🇦🇷🇵🇷

Jose “Pepito” Gomez plays Cuban son in tribute to the Buena Vista Social Club at Drom in the East Village on Sat, Oct 2 at 5:30pm & 8pm. (5pm & 7:30pm doors). $69 🇨🇺

Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Fri, Oct 1 at 10:30pm. $10. 🇨🇺

Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban rumba at Drom in the East Village on Fri, Oct 1 at 8pm (7pm doors). Tickets $30. 🇨🇺

September 2021

Eddie Palmieri, Tito Nieves and Arturo O’Farrill play a “Salsa Meets Jazz” concert at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sat, Sep 25, 2021 at 8pm. From $29 🇨🇺🇵🇷

The Affordable Art Fair is at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea Thu-Sun, Sep 23-26. From $25 🇨🇦🇨🇺🇫🇷🇲🇽🇪🇸🇺🇸

The New York Yankees celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a giveaway of Yankee caps with Hispanic flags for Yankee games on Fri-Wed, Sep 17-22, 2021. From $40. mlb.com
🇦🇷🇧🇴🇧🇷🇨🇱🇨🇴🇨🇷🇨🇺🇩🇴🇪🇨🇸🇻🇬🇹🇭🇳🇲🇽🇳🇮🇵🇦🇵🇾🇵🇪🇵🇷🇪🇸🇺🇾🇻🇪

Yas Gonzalez shows at Fashion Designers of Latin America at Lavan541 in Chelsea, Manhattan on Tue-Wed, Sep 8-9, 2021. 🇨🇺

Cuban Archive

Cuban Festivals in NYC

Cuban New York City

Cuban Culture

Cuban culture has a big influence on the world, far beyond its size. A lot of Caribbean culture is really Cuban culture. During the Colonial Period, Havana was one corner of the triangular trade, so whatever happened in Cuba spread across the Spanish Americas and even influenced Spain. Later, standing up to the Americans gave Cuba a unique credibility.

Santería

The Yoruba religion from Nigeria and Benin was called Santería by the Spanish in Cuba because Africans kept their heritage faith by blending it with worship of Catholic saints

Continue Reading Santería

Cuba

The Havana Film Festival (International Festival of New Latin American Cinema) is in Havana in December. It’s one of the good times to visit.

Caribbean NYC

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