Daymé Arocena

Twenty-four year-old singer, composer, arranger, and band leader Daymé Arocena is redefining Cuban music.
Her charismatic presence, powerful voice, and ability to absorb music of any kind contribute to her status as one of the most exciting and innovative artists of the Cuban contemporary music scene. Rooting her compositions in Cuba’s classic rhythms, Arocena often immerses fragments of rumba rhythms, Brazilian pop, and outbursts of scatting into her songs and performances. As a devotee of Santeria, Arocena is always dressed in white—the chants and repertoires of the Afro-Cuban religion are just as important to her as jazz and Cuban neo-soul.

“Madres” from Daymé Arocena’s debut album “Nueva Era” was selected by NPR as one of the best 50 songs of 2015.

“Her voice pouring liquid over hectic conga beats before breaking out in soulful celebration of the storied perfect combination of Cuban music and jazz…she looks set to join the group of women artists who are described as global divas”—Billboard.

New York Times review: Daymé Arocena Mixes a Cosmopolitan Vibe With an Earthy Tone

Daymé Arocena will conduct a post-concert talk describing her experience coming out of the Cuban music conservatory system, as well as some background on the musical traditions of the island.

$24 ($27 day of); $21 WKC Member ($24); $11 under 19

This engagement of Daymé Arocena is funded through Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.