Jesús Díaz arrived in the United States from Cuba as part of the chaotic 1980 Mariel exodus, seeking freedom and opportunity. Since settling in the Bay Area some three decades ago, the percussion virtuoso, songwriter, vocalist and educator has taken full advantage of both, performing with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Carlos Santana to Andy Narell, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. He’s been a key member of many of the region’s leading Latin ensembles, and in the late ’90s became a bandleader in his own right, founding the powerhouse 10-piece dance group QBA, which specializes in the hard-grooving Havana style known as timba.
Duniya Dance and Drum Company
What happens when two distant and vastly sophisticated musical cultures converge in an ongoing creative endeavor? In Duniya Dance and Drum Company the result is an electrifying conversation between the West African traditions of Guinea and the North Indian traditions of Punjab. Founded in 2007 by esteemed cultural activists Joti Singh and Bongo Sidibe, San Francisco’s Duniya is dedicated to cultivating respect for traditional forms, fostering cultural exchange, effecting social justice and building community. Characterized by high-energy performances, Duniya simultaneously pays homage to and innovates within traditional forms to explore challenges faced in today’s world.
Will Magid & Alligator Spacewalk
A wildly charismatic trumpeter with a global musical vision, Will Magid has earned a devoted following with his Bay Area concert series World Wide Dance Party, a moveable musical feast serving up celebratory sounds from around the world. More than a horn player, Magid is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ who laces his live performances with electronic loops and samples, seamlessly blending original music with an international sonic palette. He debuts Alligator Spacewalk at the YBG Festival, a singular ensemble including Adam Theis on horns, Shaina Evoniuk on violin, Kevin Wong on B3 organ and synths, Zebuel Early on guitar, Paul Oliphant on drums, Enrique “Quique” Padilla on percussion, and vocalist Ezekiel McCarter. Together they form what Will describes as “a sonic journey through time and space blending 1920s jazz, French Impressionism, funk, and global sounds.”
Okinawan Folk Ensemble
Among the many beautiful regions of Japan, Okinawa stands out for its unique folk song and dance culture. Performers from the Kinuko Mototake Okinawan Dance Academy along with Master Kinuko Mototake, perform traditional Okinawan dance, telling stories of young love, evil spirits, and the seafaring culture of Okinawa, accompanied by musicians on 3-string sanshin and shime-daiko drums. Experience the beauty and depth of this classic Japanese art form. The Azama Honryu Seifu Ichisen Kai USA Kinuko Mototake Okinawan Dance Academy and the Okinawa Eisa Shima Daiko Drummers are presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan.
KulArts’ Maség Typhoon
A bitingly satiric reimagination of Shakespeare’s immortal dreamscape The Tempest, Maség is gorgeous dance theater creation by three of the Bay Area’s most respected artists: Philippine dance choreographer Jay Loyola, composer Florante Aguilar, and Kularts’ Artistic Director Alleluia Panis. Set in the Philippines in the 15th century, Maség tells the tale of a once powerful and righteous tribal shaman exiled to the island of Puló, where he manipulates the island deities into conjuring a powerful storm to sink the ship of his enemies.