Alt-Latino Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Gloria Estefan: ‘It’s All About The Drums,’ This Time From Brazil

By NPR News August 23, 2020

Cuban-American pop star Gloria Estefan may have one of those game changing albums on her hands with the release of Brazil305, a re-examination of some of her most familiar songs through the lens of her life-long love of Brazilian music and rhythms.Read More

Jorge Santana, Malo Guitarist And Latin Rock Maestro, Dead At 68

By NPR News May 20, 2020

Santana had a brush with major success as a member of the band Malo, and made significant contributions to the breadth of Latin popular music.Read More

Happy Birthday, Cándido Camero. Alt-Latino Celebrates 99 Years For A Latin Jazz Pioneer

By NPR News April 26, 2020

Cuban percussionist Cándido Camero turned 99 years young this month. Tom Pich/National Endowment for the Arts

On this episode of Alt.Latino, we pull an interview from the archives with the great Cuban percussionist. From Havana nightlife in the 1940s to the pulsing streets of New York just after World War II, he reminisces about the seminal recordings and jam sessions that took place. Read More

Alt.Latino’s Felix Contreras Shares Music Of Comfort For Challenging Times

By NPR News April 12, 2020

Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras offers a playlist of music that's comforting him and his listeners amid the coronavirus pandemic.Read More

The 2010s: Latinx Music Before And After ‘Despacito’

By NPR News November 15, 2019

Luis Fonsi (left) and Daddy Yankee perform "Despacito" during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018. CREDIT: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for NARAS

It's almost impossible to pinpoint an exact moment in music history when the plates shift. But looking back at the last decade in Latin music, it's easy, now to see that the release of "Despacito" by Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi in early 2017 was just such a moment.Read More

How Ella Fitzgerald Is Influencing A New Generation Of Latinx Musicians

By NPR News September 9, 2019

"Any person that wants to be a singer should know Ella Fitzgerald," Cuban artist Daymé Arocena says. Pablo Dewin/Courtesy of the artist

Ella Fitzgerald's musical genius and influence is still being felt today. Latinx musicians Mabiland and Daymé Arocena explain how Fitzgerald inspires their music. Read More

Vicente García: A Pop-Fusion Star On A Mission To Stay Authentic

By NPR News June 5, 2019

García's new album Candela is the sparkling finale in a trilogy of albums with Dominican-influenced sounds. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist

The higher the Dominican singer-songwriter's star rises, the tighter he grips his artistic freedom. The new Candela caps a trio of albums connecting dots between bachata, merengue, trap, pop and more.Read More