DISTRIBUTION DATE: Sept 12, 2024
EPISODE TITLE: “The New York Sound of Latin Music”
New York City has long been a major incubator for Latin music with its large populations of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Panamanian, Cuban, and Colombian musicians and music fans. We celebrate some of the giants of New York’s Latin music scene—Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Jerry Gonzalez—as well as less well know artists. Topics include the cross-pollination between Latin music and jazz, the Panama connection featuring Rubén Blades among others, the Latin-Jewish connection and much more. Produced and co-hosted by author and Afropop producer veteran Ned Sublette with special guest Dr. Ben Lapidus, musician and author of “New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940 to 1990”
DISTRIBUTION DATE: Sept 19, 2024
EPISODE TITLE: “The Panama Beat”
Central America, a narrow, mountainous, and largely impoverished stretch of land spanning seven countries, is a surprising and underexposed Latin American musical hot zone. The region’s bizarre and tumultuous history has led to a fascinating mix of cultural influences – Spanish conquistadors, British pirates, and American banana companies have at one time or another vied for power. Add to this mix the presence of large indigenous enclaves, Anglo-Caribbean migrants, the Afro-Arawak Garifuna and Miskito peoples, and the many musical influences of the Caribbean, and you have the makings of a very interesting musical tapestry. Salsa and merengue, soca and calypso, reggae and reggaeton—it all comes together in Central America. In our program, we visit Panama, a little-known musical treasure trove. Here on the isthmus, music from around the Americas mixed together in a unique stew: American, Cuban, Colombian and Jamaican influences combine to form a highly complex and unique musical culture. We’ll hear interviews from Spanish reggae star Kafu Banton, Afro-Spanish linguist John Lipski, traditional Afro-Latino princess Marcia Rodriguez, dancehall duo Los Rakas, and many more. Produced by Marlon Bishop.
DISTRIBUTION DATE: Sept 26, 2024
EPISODE TITLE: “Rumba Boogie and Latin Doo Wop”
This program travels from New Orleans to Detroit to Philadelphia, celebrating the exuberant cross-pollination between R&B and Latin music styles such as the mambo and cha-cha-cha with classic recordings mainly from the 1950s and 60s. Featured artists include Sam Cook, Johnny Otis, Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters, Billy Stewart and Bo Diddley, the Turbans, Arthur Lee Maye, and others.
DISTRIBUTION DATE: Oct. 3, 2024
EPISODE TITLE: “The Other Afro-Latino: Hidden Sounds from Equador, Bolivia, Uruguay”
Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian musical giants have long enjoyed the spotlight, yet throughout Latin America there are other black enclaves producing some of the New World's most vibrant music. Their stories have gone untold for far too long. In this episode, Afropop explores these lost sounds, starting in an Ecuadorian desert valley where African and Andean traditions have mixed seamlessly into fiery dance music. Then we're off to mangrove-studded Esmeraldas to search out the last marimba legends living on the jungle waterways. We continue to Bolivia, where a tiny black minority uses their music to fight for recognition by the indigenous government and last, we'll listen to the driving carnival music of Uruguay, candombe. Tune in for exclusive interviews and recordings by everyone from marimba master Papa Roncon to Candombe-jazz legend Hugo Fattoruso. Produced by Marlon Bishop.
DISTRIBUTION DATE: Oct. 10, 2024
EPISODE TITLE: “Maestros de Cumbia”
Cumbia is an exhuberant music born on the coast of Colombia, mixing African and indigenous elements. We go the Copacabana, New York's premiere Latin dance club, to hear cumbia maestro and accordion king Lisandro Meza in concert. Other featured cumbia maestros are Andres Landero and Mexico's Celso Pina.
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DISTRIBUTION DATE: Sept 12, 2024EPISODE TITLE: “The New York Sound of Latin Music”New York City has long been a major incubator for Latin music with its large populations of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Panamanian, Cuban, and Colombian musicians and music fans. We celebrate some of the giants of New York’s Latin music scene—Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Jerry Gonzalez—as well as less well know artists. Topics include the cross-pollination between Latin music and jazz, the Panama connection featuring Rubén Blades among others, the Latin-Jewish connection and much more. Produced and co-hosted by author and Afropop producer veteran Ned Sublette with special guest Dr. Ben Lapidus, musician and author of “New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940 to 1990”DISTRIBUTION DATE: Sept... Show full description
