Primo Cubano

Primo Cubano brings the irresistible rhythms of traditional Cuban dance music to life, performing son—the style that first emerged in the Cuban countryside at the turn of the 20th century and later blossomed in Havana. Son became the heartbeat of Cuba’s popular music, blending African and Spanish roots into a sound that laid the foundation for modern salsa.

The group was founded by guitarist Paul D’Alessio, who first encountered son during a 2004 trip to Cuba with the Brunswick–Trinidad Sister City Association. Captivated by its energy and spirit, he began learning the tres, a guitar-like Cuban instrument, and formed Primo Cubano—literally, “Cuban Cousin.”

The band features a powerhouse lineup: trumpeter and percussionist Marc Chillemi, who adds bright brass lines and spirited coros (choruses); percussionist Lenny Hatch, whose passion for the congas began with the legendary Mongo Santamaría and has only deepened over two decades; vocalist and maraca player Eric Winter, whose lifelong love of singing and study of Spanish infuses the music with authenticity; and bassist Duane Edwards, a University of Maine at Augusta graduate whose mastery of the tumbao groove keeps dancers moving all night long.

$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student

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