Wed 11/1 @ 7:30PM
Vocalist Omara Portuono, who is 92, is often considered “the voice of Cuba.”
Her long career has spanned many eras and many genres — including jazz, son, danzón, boleros, traditional Cuban music and Nueva Trova, a political style that emerged in the 60s. Here in the U.S. she’s best known for her vocal on the 1997 Grammy-winning debut album by Buena Vista Social Club.
Over a span of more than give decades from the 1950s to the 90s she cofounded Cuarteto d’Aida, became known for her interpretations of the Great American Songbook, and put out close to a dozen records. She’s been an ambassador for Afro-Cuban music both at home and around the world and won numerous awards and honors.
Unsurprisingly, she’s now on her farewell tour, which she’s calling “Vida,” summing up her life in music and outside it. She’ll perform at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium with a four-piece band that including piano, drums, bass and percussion.
Get tickets here.