Colombia's Herencia de Timbiqui brings their Irresistable AfroColombian Rhythms
Sat Apr 22, 8:00 PM - Sat Apr 22, 11:00 PM

Hailed as "one of the most exciting tropical music acts out of Colombia in recent years" by World Music Central, and "Pound for pound, the best band of the Colombian Pacific" by Carlos Vives, Herencia de Timbiqui is an Afro-descendent group from the Pacific coast of Colombia, that combines ancestral and modern instruments for an irresistible sound that is folkloric and contemporary.

"Our musical richness is the fruit of many afternoons spent on the banks of the Timbiquí, River, in the middle of the Colombian Pacific jungle, when the marimba made from the chonta tree and traditional drums overtake the silence. That is our heritage"!

Timbiquí is a small town on the Colombian Pacific Ocean coast, surrounded by jungle and rivers. In the early aughts, composer Begner Vásquez and four other friends were forced to abandon their hometown due to the violence generated by illegal groups that controlled the area's gold mines as well as the serious danger posed by paramilitary groups to Afro Colombian communities. They moved to Cali, the largest city on the Colombian Pacific coast, founded the band, and began to develop their unique take on their folkloric-rooted grooves, which are played with marimba made from the chonta tree, deer-hide drums called cununus and seed-filled percussion instruments called guasá--fused with contemporary instruments such as the electrical guitar, drums, trumpet and sax. An eleven member band, Herencia also added to the mix the salsa of Colombian dance halls as well as an exploration of funk, jazz and reggae. It is said that each concert is an explosion of energy, flavor and rhyhms that force audience members up from the seats.

Luckily, the Little Havana Social Club series--dedicated to celebrating Latin American heritage through music and dance--provides a dance floor for such an occasion. Intent on promoting community and engagement, the evening featuries a pre-concert dance lesson, DJ set, and local vendors selling specialty food and cocktails. Situated in the lush gardens of the