"The launch event in March was really successful. Everything came together for a totally perfect night," Laura Quinla, Rhythm Foundation Director said. "What was especially cool was that it was a lot of different kinds of people of all backgrounds and ages having a great time together." "It is important to focus on the wealth of culture that Haiti has great music, art, dance. The culture is so rich. Little Haiti also has a lot of nice experiences to offer the general public," Quinla said. "We are hoping our night grows and encompasses all the artist studios, cultural venues, shops and restaurants in the area. I think it will be something people throughout South Florida will look forward to every month."
The festival also gathers expatriate Cuban musicians. They include Xiomara Laugart, a singer from Havana who is now a member of Yerba Buena, at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on April 30, and the rapper Telmary Diaz at BAMCafé on April 23. The pianist Arturo O'Farrill, who leads the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, brings his Family Band to BAMCafé on April 30, and on May 14 at Symphony Space the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra will be the centerpiece of Wall to Wall Sonidos, a marathon of Latin music featuring the premiere of O'Farrill's composition "A Still Small Voice." With luck, the festival's many multidisciplinary offerings will also give the music something it has rarely had in New York: a context.
"Gonaives... my heart is being torn apart, too many mothers have lost too many children," [Wyclef] sings in Creole, while distributing WFP food rations. "We wanted to capture the raw essence of Gonaives and give people inspiration. Not like: 'Be sad for us,' but asking how can we as people really help Gonaives," he said.
The Hostos Community College Foundation, with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Hostos Student Government Association, the Black Student Union, the Black Studies Unit/Humanities Department, and the Black Male Initiative are proud to present a Black revival event with a special performance by Katia Cadet on Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at Hostos Repertory Theater, located at 450 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York.
BET's "SOS Saving Ourselves-Help for Haiti" benefit and concert telethon debuted live from the American Airlines Arena on Friday night. The event was hosted by Queen Latifiah, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Pharrell.
