Episodios

  • The life and legacy of pianist Lilí Martínez Griñan
    Mar 6 2026

    Ethnomusicologist Ben Lapidus joins Rebecca again to discuss the life and legacy of Cuban pianist Lilí Martínez Griñan, a Guantanamero who joined Arsenio Rodriguez's band in the 1940s and quickly became his right-hand man in terms of composition and arranging. Lapidus is the editor of a new anthology in Spanish, El hombre y su música: Lilí Martínez Griñán.


    Songs played:

    Tumba Palo Cucuyé, Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto

    Mira...Cuidadito, Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto

    Cero Guapos en Yateras, Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto

    Alto Songo, Chappotín y Sus Estrellas

    Mi Changüí Son, Estrellas de Chocolate

    El Divorcio, Arsenio Rodriguez

    La Candela, Los Van Van

    Musica Suave, El Niño y La Verdad

    Send a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    1 h y 9 m
  • Violín and hybrid worship practices in contemporary Cuba
    Jan 22 2026

    Ethnomusicologist Robin Moore joins Rebecca to discuss the subject of his forthcoming book, Violín: Mediating Musical Style and Devotional Practice in 21st-Century Cuba. As music used to accompany ceremonies for the ancestors and orishas, violines have been growing in recent decades in Cuba, and are an example of an increasingly hybrid musical approach to worship in Cuba.

    Songs played (all by Orquesta Estrellas Cubanas except where noted):

    Ave Maria

    Plegaria a Obbatalá

    Two versions of Sea El Santísimo - second one by Ifa Fore & Pepe y Sus Tambores

    Danzón Virgen de Regla

    Ochímini II

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    1 h y 5 m
  • Feliz 100 años, Celia!
    Oct 21 2025

    The most beloved Cuban musician of all time was born on this day 100 years ago: Celia Cruz. We're honoring her with a brand new episode featuring Delia Poey, a professor at Florida State University who has written extensively about Celia's Career.

    Songs played:

    Quimbara

    Field recording of Afrocuba de Matanzas' version of Quimbara

    Chango Ta' Vení

    Que Le Den Candela

    Usted Abusó

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    53 m
  • "El rumbero del piano": Paying tribute to Eddie Palmieri
    Aug 19 2025

    Columbia University professor and trombonist Chris Washburne joins Rebecca to pay tribute to "el rumbero del piano," Eddie Palmieri, one of Latin music's most significant pioneers. His music straddled salsa, Latin jazz, and other genres, and he was known for his innovative experimentation in form and harmony.

    Songs played:

    Azúcar

    El día que me quieras

    Broken home & If (We had peace today), from the Harlem River Drive project

    Puerto Rico


    Rebecca's recent piece on Eddie Palmieri:

    https://www.grammy.com/news/how-eddie-palmieri-changed-latin-music-obituary


    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    55 m
  • The latest in Cuban music with Rafa Escalona
    Apr 23 2025

    Cuban journalist Rafa Escalona joins Rebecca to talk about the latest trends in Cuban music, including how hard it is to track this information on the island and how recent out-migration has affected the evolution and definition of "música cubana." While contemporary Cuban music is of course dominated by reparto, the songs shared by Rafa provide a broader look into the latest trends.

    Songs played:

    Un Momentico + — Melanie Santiler & Dale Pututi

    Andala Remix — Wildey, Musteerifa & Raydel El Q Manda

    Suite Para Isaac Oviedo — Jorge Iván Martín feat. Juan Carlos Aguilera

    Amanacer Sin Ti — Albita & Lenier

    Tertuliando — Angel Toirac feat.


    LINKS

    Newness Cuba playlist (50 best songs in Cuban music from the past year): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1gPyKTGHHQy16z7YO2lhHV

    Cuba Tracklist (Instagram account with weekly lists of most popular Cuban tracks): https://www.instagram.com/cubatracklist/

    Rafa's Substack: https://divagacionesmusicales.substack.com/

    A recent piece Rafa wrote (in Spanish) about reparto and YouTube: https://revistaelestornudo.com/reparto-youtube-dicen-charts-musica-cubana/

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    1 h y 20 m
  • A tribute to Paulito FG
    Mar 20 2025

    Kevin Moore is back to help us pay tribute to one of timba's brightest stars, Paulito FG (EPD), who died tragically on March 1.

    Songs played:

    El humo o la vida, Dan Den feat. Paulito FG

    Y ahora que,

    Percussion and vocal track for Entre Dos Amigos

    No te lo creas,

    Laura (demo track)

    El punto

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    1 h
  • Breaking down Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos
    Feb 21 2025

    Finally, we're back with a brand new episode, inspired by Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico, Debí Tirar Más Fotos! We get deep into the weeds of the Puerto Rican musical and political traditions that are referenced in Bad Bunny's wide-ranging, exquisitely produced album. Joining Rebecca are Puerto Rican musician and educator Hector Lugo (founder of the Bay Area Latin roots band La Mixta Criolla), and Puerto Rican writer, translator and Bad Bunny scholar Carina del Valle Schorske.

    Songs played:

    A Guayama, Desde Cero

    Si Yo Fuera Alcalde, Chuíto el de Bayamón

    Aires de Navidad, Hector Lavoe & Willie Colón

    La Huelga, La Mixta Criolla

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    1 h y 29 m
  • Send me your questions for a mailbag episode!
    Nov 11 2024

    Send us a text

    Support the show

    You can support this independently produced podcast by becoming a monthly subscriber - even $3/month helps!

    If you like this podcast, please hit "Follow" and give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

    Find The Clave Chronicles on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @clavechronicles
    https://theclavechronicles.buzzsprout.com

    Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions

    Más Menos
    5 m