Since settling in the Bay Area in 1969, Cuban-born vocalist Bobi Céspedes has been an essential cultural conduit, providing authentic Afro-Cuban roots music to a region with a passionate hunger for clave. She made an enduring impression in the 1980s with the celebrated band Conjunto Céspedes, and gained a larger following as part of Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum and Bembé Orisha projects. With her deep, resonant voice and captivating stage presence, Céspedes is a direct link between the new world and the old, belting out son, rumba, boleros and Yoruba incantations. Her superlative band sets a daunting standard on a scene rife with talent-packed ensembles.