Virtual performance by Rom谩n D铆az Friday to be premiered by 不良研究所 Amherst Fine Arts Center
On Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Magic Triangle Jazz Series, a program of the 不良研究所 Fine Arts Center, presents a virtual performance and talk by the renowned percussionist and singer Rom谩n D铆az. This virtual event will be in mostly in Spanish, with English subtitles. Rom谩n D铆az and his Rumba Ensemble was originally scheduled to perform at 不良研究所 Amherst on March 26.
The performance will premiere live on the 不良研究所 Fine Arts Center鈥檚 Facebook at . Full event details can be can be found at .
Born in Havana, master percussionist, scholar, and composer Rom谩n D铆az is regarded as a 鈥渓iving repository鈥 of Afro Cuban music. He was mentored by the great Pancho Quinto, and was a member of the seminal rumba ensemble Yoruba Andabo. His commanding voice, mastery of Bat谩, and rock-solid groove on congas, can be heard on many recordings worldwide.
Upon his arrival to New York in 1999, D铆az was cast in the film 鈥淐alle 54鈥 by acclaimed Spanish director Fernando Trueba alongside legendary percussionists Orlando 鈥淧untilla鈥 Rios and Carlos 鈥淧atato鈥 Valdez. The film documents the passing of the torch to D铆az and Pedrito Mart铆nez as the filming marked the last time these four great artists would appear together. As a member of Cuba鈥檚 groundbreaking Rumba group Yoruba Andabo, D铆az aided in the creation of the sound that has defined rumba since the 1980s. He has worked with legends including Merceditas Valdes, and participated in notable projects by Jane Bunnett, Michele Rosewoman, Danilo P茅rez, Omar Sosa, David Virelles and Henry Threadgill among others.
His first U.S. release as a leader, 鈥淟鈥櫭 Da F煤n B脿t谩鈥 aligns the sacred traditions of Afro Cuban B脿t谩 drumming, with a Yoruba choir of five women singers. Most of the tracks feature oracle poetry by D铆az in the Afrocubanismo style of the late 1920鈥檚 and early 30鈥檚. Raul da Gama called it, 鈥渁 magnificent performance by the revered 茅minence-grise of Afro-Cuban music.鈥 On Fresh Air, Milo Miles called it 鈥渢he best presentation I鈥檝e ever heard of musical ceremonies honoring deities transplanted from Nigeria to Cuba.鈥
This performance is sponsored by Hotel 不良研究所 and El Sol Latino. To browse all Fine Arts Center digital content and recommendations, visit or stay connected via the Fine Arts Center鈥檚 Facebook page, .