Defying Cultural Expectations: Dafnis Prieto And Carlos Rafael Rivera
Defying Cultural Expectations: Dafnis Prieto And Carlos Rafael Rivera
Dafnis Prieto and Carlos Rafael Rivera show Alt.Latino how they carved out paths for themselves in music that has surprised the world. Renee Klahr/NPR Illustration hide caption
Dafnis Prieto and Carlos Rafael Rivera show Alt.Latino how they carved out paths for themselves in music that has surprised the world.
Renee Klahr/NPR IllustrationWhat do you think about when you hear the term "Latin musician"? Are there a set of preconceived ideas of what you expect to hear? Are you curious about the musician's country of origin or cultural roots, then think of specific sounds?
This week's show is about defying expectations. These are musicians who challenge our preconceived ideas about what Latin music is and pleasantly surprise us in the process.
We hear from Carlos Rafael Rivera, a film composer originally from Guatemala, whose work is included in the popular Netflix series The Queen's Gambit.
But first up is Dafnis Prieto, a drummer from Cuba who has established himself in the U.S. as a band leader and composer who stretches and often shatters the expectations of straight ahead jazz.
Both Rivera and Prieto offer a deeper understanding of the creative process and how cultural influences shape their creative output. Join us as both musicians show us how they carved out paths for themselves in music that has surprised the world.