On Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Magic Triangle Jazz Series, a program of the UMass Fine Arts Center, presents a virtual performance and talk by the renowned percussionist and singer Román Díaz. This virtual event will be in mostly in Spanish, with English subtitles. Román Díaz and his Rumba Ensemble was originally scheduled to perform at UMass Amherst on March 26.
The performance will premiere live on the UMass Fine Arts Center’s Facebook at facebook.com/UMassFineArtsCenter. Full event details can be can be found at fineartscenter.com/roman.
Born in Havana, master percussionist, scholar, and composer Román Díaz is regarded as a “living repository” 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 Batá, and rock-solid groove on congas, can be heard on many recordings worldwide.
Upon his arrival to New York in 1999, Díaz was cast in the film “Calle 54” by acclaimed Spanish director Fernando Trueba alongside legendary percussionists Orlando “Puntilla” Rios and Carlos “Patato” Valdez. The film documents the passing of the torch to Díaz and Pedrito Martínez as the filming marked the last time these four great artists would appear together. As a member of Cuba’s groundbreaking Rumba group Yoruba Andabo, Díaz 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 Pérez, Omar Sosa, David Virelles and Henry Threadgill among others.
His first U.S. release as a leader, “L’ó Da Fún Bàtá” aligns the sacred traditions of Afro Cuban Bàtá drumming, with a Yoruba choir of five women singers. Most of the tracks feature oracle poetry by Díaz in the Afrocubanismo style of the late 1920’s and early 30’s. Raul da Gama called it, “a magnificent performance by the revered éminence-grise of Afro-Cuban music.” On Fresh Air, Milo Miles called it “the best presentation I’ve ever heard of musical ceremonies honoring deities transplanted from Nigeria to Cuba.”
This performance is sponsored by Hotel UMass and El Sol Latino. To browse all Fine Arts Center digital content and recommendations, visit www.fineartscenter.com or stay connected via the Fine Arts Center’s Facebook page, facebook.com/UMassFineArtsCenter.