One of the West Coast’s leading Cuban bands, Edgar Pantoja and the Afro-Cuban Tribe is a rhythmic powerhouse designed to deliver Pantoja’s original compositions. It’s a book that combines Cuban roots sources of rumba, son, and timba with international rhythms of samba, Moroccan Gnawa, jazz and funk. Born in Santiago de Cuba, Pantoja has spent more than two decades touring and collaborating with an international array of stars, including Rubén Blades, David Murray, Angelique Kidjo, and most recently as pianist/keyboardist and arranger for Cuban conga maestro Pedrito Martinez. Pantoja’s Afro-Cuban Tribe brings together a brilliant cast of Cuban players with guitarist David Lechuga-Espadas, bassist Ernesto Mazar Kindelán, percussionist Carlitos Medrano (an esteemed bandleader in his own right featured at YBG Festival on Oct 17) and drummer Josh Jones.