Drawing inspiration from the intertwining musical legacies of her native Cuba, 27-year-old Daymé Arocena is a vocal powerhouse who has been described by NPR Music as “a magical mash-up of The Queen of Latin Music, Celia Cruz, and The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.” Born to a family steeped in music, Daymé had already won the prestigious Marti y el Arte award and was performing professionally as principal singer with the big band Los Primos by age 14. Once she caught the attention of jazz impresario Wynton Marsalis, much-lauded saxophonist Jane Bunnett and Brownswood Recordings founder Gilles Peterson, her career skyrocketed. She has since released three albums and toured worldwide from LA to Tokyo, all the while carrying the torch for a new generation of Cuban musicians. Don’t miss her SMF debut in a night of Afro-Cuban jazz at the Charles H. Morris Center!