Francois Wiss, Damian Quiñones, and Danny Valdez are proud to present their unique renditions of the many hits of the Cuban legends of the Buena Vista Social Club. They will perform all the beloved classics of Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, Ruben Gonzales, and of course Compay Segundo, but also some hidden gems from their repertoire, blended with accents of flamenco and World music, offering a fresh take and their vision on these timeless tunes.
Francois Wiss is a French-American musician and producer based in NYC for the past two decades. Born in Paris in 1973, and brought up in a family of musicians, he studied with maestros such as Terry Fleming, Juan del Gastor, El Mati, Belaïd Aït Adbdallah, and Pierre Culaz. His unique style of guitar playing is inspired by flamenco, North African, Latin, World music, jazz, and psychedelic rock. From the edgy scene of Camden Town in the 90’s, to Andalusia, and the Americas, Francois Wiss has always been looking for inspiration in the music played out on the street, improvising, sharing, and jamming with strangers and people met along the way. This is how innovation meets tradition; and how the old ways of street musicians, which are still very alive in La Havana today, are both preserved and constantly reinvented.
Damian Quiñones is a multi-instrumentalist and a virtuoso Cuatro player. Born and raised in the Bronx, he draws inspiration from the timeless sounds of 60's rock and roll, Nuyorican funk, tropicalia, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Quiňones released four albums, and his latest creation, "Sleight of Hand in the Material Realm” came out in 2022.
Percussionist Danny “Conga” Valdez is nothing short of a prodigy, who showed his disposition for music and taste for percussion at a very young age. A Long Island native, Valdez has performed with countless artists worldwide and is now one of the most prominent and sought- after percussion players in NYC.
The rich repertoire of the Buena Vista Social Club, brimming with poetry, humor, and rhythm, provides an ideal canvas for spontaneous improvisation and genuine expression of emotions. Wiss, Quiñones, and Valdez, alongside several guest performers, extend a heartfelt invitation for you to join them in experiencing and cherishing that singular and enchanting moment together.
