Duo Changüísonico: José Andrés + Kai Lyons & friends

José Andrés, “El Sinsonte” + Kai Lyons return to Bird & Beckett for the third time!

Tonight, guests Cy Thompson, marimbula, Ricky Aguilar, bongos, and Myron Cohen, drumset, drop in to give José Andrés a proper send off.

Bird & Beckett is proud to present José Andrés “El Sinsonte” Rodríguez Ramírez of Guantánamo, Cuba — “The Mockinbird” — renowned gran maestro reginero, freestyle poet/lyricist of the Latin Grammy-nominated Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo, the most widely traveled and successful changüí group today. El Sinsonte, now living in retirement in Tampa, Florida, has returned to the Bay Area for a series of engagements with San Francisco’s own Kai Lyons, guitarist, tres cubano player and musicologist extraordinaire, concluding with their Bird & Beckett duo encounter.

Kai, ubiquitous performer and respected educator on the Bay Area jazz scene, travels extensively to learn from the musical traditions of cultures beyond the borders of the U.S., particularly to various African countries as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. In 2023, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Kai encountered José Andrés, recently retired from Changüí de Guantánamo and living in Tampa, Florida. Kai has often visited Cuba, and since his encounter with José Andrés, his primary destination there has been the city of Guantánamo, capital of the southeastern province of Guantánamo, in pursuit of deeper knowledge and understanding of changüí.

Historically the foremost practitioner of its genre, Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo was formed in 1945 by the Veranes brothers — renowned tres player Latamblé “Chito” Veranes, and bonguero Arturo Veranes. Born in 1916 in Guantánamo’s Loma del Chivo neighborhood, Latamblé rose to prominence as a musician through a succession of groups beginning in 1934 with Los Jóvenes del Guaso, a combo he formed with his brother. From there, Latamblé moved through Rafael Inciarte Brioso’s Orquesta Cristal; an ensemble led by Conchita Bravo; and Los Champions de Lilí Martínez, which became Los Siete Amigos after leader Martínez herself moved on. Latamblé then joined La Trova Tradicional de Guantánamo and subsequently Orquesta Siboney, before Martínez recruited him for La Rareza del 43. Latamblé was influential in pianist Martínez’s incorporation of the nengón and changüí into contemporary son piano playing, and in 1945, Rafael Inciarte requested that Latamblé and his brother form an ensemble devoted entirely to the changüí. The resulting band was Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo, which was led by José Andrés, El Sinsonte, from 1981 until his retirement a few years ago. The ensemble continues as the most widely traveled and successful changüí group today.

Tonight will be an unrivaled opportunity to encounter El Sinsonte in an intimate setting with his great friend and colleague, Kai Lyons for a night of boleros, son, improv, call-and-response, humor, stories and changüí. Get a taste of what El Sinsonte can do these days “in retirement,” in Tampa and wherever he roams: Vamos Pal Monte

$20 cover charge; byob
Students $10

For a reservation, call the bookshop at 415-586-3733

Read Andy Gilbert’s Mission Local piece on El Sinsonte and his current Bay Area tour with Kai at this link: bringing-guantanamo-soul-this-week-to-the-bay-area