Román Díaz & La Rumba de los Lunes

Cuban-born master percussionist Román Díaz —a “living repository” of Afro-Cuban culture— leads La Rumba Cubana de Queens at Terraza 7, a powerful weekly gathering where tradition, improvisation, and community come together every Monday.

Admission: $20: Cover charge for Mezzanine seating

Featuring:
Roger Consiglio / Vocals.
Máximo Valdés / Vocals.
Rafael Monteagudo / Percussion.
Clemente Medina / Percussion.
Román Diaz / Percussion; Spoken Word and folklorist.

About Roman Diaz:

Renowned as a master percussionist, scholar, and composer, Román Díaz is often revered as a living archive of Afro Cuban music. His illustrious career includes performances and recordings with eminent musicians such as Merceditas Valdés, Raíces Profundas, Los Marqueses de Atarés, Jane Bunett, Orlando “Puntilla” Ríos, Paquito D’Rivera, Oriente Lopez, Giovanni Hidalgo, David Virelles, Chucho Valdés, and Wynton Marsalis.

His mentorship under the legendary Pancho Quinto, founder of the pioneering rumba ensemble Yoruba Andabo, has seen Díaz contribute significantly to the evolution of the rumba sound that has defined Cuban music since the 1980s, and resonates with audiences globally. His expertise in Batá, combined with an unyielding rhythm on the congas, has been immortalized in numerous recordings across the world.

As an ardent educator, Díaz has traversed the globe, imparting his deep knowledge of Afro Cuban percussion through master classes. His profound understanding of the cultural roots and the narrative sensibility of his artistry make him a unique musical visionary, potentially guiding the future evolution of this musical form.