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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Allende and Luis Orbegoso, also share some of their memories, while Cuban musician, producer and social activist Luis Bran speaks about the social upheaval that was occurring in Cuba during the years the festivals were taking place. Join us as we explore how the ¡Afrocubanismo! festival was brought to fruition, and we learn about the ways that cross-cultural learning was transmitted, the relationships that were forged, and the impact the festival behind. This episode features music from Chucho Valdés, Irakere, Ilu Aña, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Angá and Tata Güines, Afrocuba de Matanzas and, the Afrocubanismo CD recorded in Banff. Special thank you also to Luis Orbegoso for the live soundbites he shared from his personal archive for this episode.

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.

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.

In this episode we’ll zoom in one of the most important hubs for Latin music and culture in Canada: Toronto’s Lula Lounge. For this two-part episode we interviewed Jose Ortega and Tracy Jenkins, the co-artistic directors, and together with Jose Nieves, founders of Lula. We also spoke to two musicians who have been regulars on Lula’s stage since it opened: Cuban trumpet player and composer Alexis Baro, and the Peruvian-Canadian producer and percussionist Luisito Orbegoso. This episode features music from Roberto Linares Brown, Jorge Maza y Su Tipica Toronto, Cache, Luis Mario Ochoa, Puentes Brothers, Alexis Baro, Luisito Orbegoso y Moda Eterna.