Roots and Latin Soul

Since at least the 1950s, New York has been the centre of Spanish-language popular music. The musical styles imported from the Caribbean and Central and South America were transformed, with the addition of Afro-American, Italian and Jewish elements, into characteristic "Nuyorquina" genres, while the term "Nuyoricans" was coined in reference to the city's Puerto Ricans themselves. Out of the term "Latino", previously a stereotype applied by the dominant white culture, a cultural and, above all, musical identity soon emerged. Luisito Quintero, one of the most celebrated percussionists in New York, will kick off the opening weekend.

Protagonists of this music history recount how New York City became a hotbed of mambo, salsa, Latin soul and Latin jazz. Panel discussion with Juan Flores (Latin music specialist, New York University), René López (Grupo Folklórico y Experimental Nuevayorquino), Joe Bataan (musician), Joe Conzo, Sr. (music historian, former manager of Tito Puente).

Moderated by Christoph Twickel

Curator of the El Barrio programme: Christoph Twickel, journalist, author, Latin music expert and DJ (aka Basso Profundo)