March 31, 2000
RELEASE ON RECEIPT

The Afro-Cuban All-Stars to Perform at Oberlin College

8 p.m. Friday, April 14

Finney Chapel, 90 North Professor Street

Sponsored by Oberlin College's Assemblies Committee, the Student Union, and the Multicultural Resource Center

For more information, contact
Tina Zwegat at
(440)775-6107

OBERLIN, OHIO -- The Afro-Cuban All Stars, a multi-generational band with a mission to explore Cuba's rich musical heritage and show the world the diversity, continuity, and vitality of the island's music, will perform at Oberlin College's Finney Chapel (90 North Professor Street) as part of the group's second national tour on Friday, April 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the front desk of Wilder Student Union or can be ordered through the college's Central Ticket Service, (440) 775-8169.

The All Stars were formed in 1997 by Juan De Marcos Gonzalez, unsung hero of the "Buena Vista Social Club" and a central figure in today's Cuban music scene. With a cast of over 50 musicians, one of Gonzalez' aims for the All Stars is to have the group act as a launch pad for the careers of other Cuban musicians.

Since the All Stars' first grammy-nominated album, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, was produced, Gonzalez has worked closely with vocalists Ibrahim Ferrer, Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea, and Raul Planas; pianist Ruben Gonzalez; laoud player Barbarito Torres; trumpeter 'Guajiro' Mirabal; and bassist Orlando 'Cachaito' Lopez.

Both the group's musical style and their new album, Distinto, Diferente, includes a variety of contrasting sounds, including classic son montuno, contemporary tima, swinging big band guajira, Afro-Cuban jazz, danzon, and the pure tribal rhythms of abakua and bolero. The All Stars' repertoire is a mixture of Gonzalez' unique take on Cuban classics and a variety of his original compositions.

The Afro-Cuban All Stars' appearance on campus is sponsored by the Assemblies Committee, the Student Union, and the Multicultural Resource Center.

Media Contact: Sue Kropp 3/31/2000 #71