The Music Of The Buena Vista Social Club – A Tribute To The Golden Age Of Cuba

Francois Wiss, Bryan Vargas, and Jose Ramon Rosario are proud to present their unique renditions of the many hits of the Cuban legends of the Buena Vista Social Club. They will perform all the beloved classics of Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, Ruben Gonzales, and of course Compay Segundo, but also some hidden gems from their repertoire, blended with accents of flamenco and World music, offering a fresh take and their vision on these timeless tunes. 

Francois Wiss is a French-American musician and producer based in NYC for the past two decades. Born in Paris in 1973, and brought up in a family of musicians, he studied with maestros such as Terry Fleming, Juan del Gastor, El Mati, Belaïd Aït Adbdallah, and Pierre Culaz. His unique style of guitar playing is inspired by flamenco, North African, Latin, World music, jazz, and psychedelic rock. From the edgy scene of Camden Town in the 90’s, to Andalusia, and the Americas, Francois Wiss has always been looking for inspiration in the music played out on the street, improvising, sharing, and jamming with strangers and people met along the way. This is how innovation meets tradition; and how the old ways of street musicians, which are still very alive in La Havana today, are both preserved and constantly reinvented. 

Brooklyn based guitarist, bassist, Cuatrista, & composer Bryan Vargas has recorded and  performed on stages around the world with music legends as well as underground indie  phenoms. Primarily active in New York’s “Global Music” community, he has performed with  artists such as Antibalas, Chop and Quench, Miramar, Arturo O’Farill, Seun Kuti, Groove  Collective, Stretch & Bobbito, Yomo Toro, Os Mutantes, Lionel Loueke, and so many more. He  was the Asst Music Director of the 2013 American tour of the Broadway Musical ¨Fela!¨ He co wrote and performed the album, “Falu’s Bazaar,” with the vocalist, Falu,which received a  Grammy nomination for Best Children’s Album in 2019. His original composition, “As Warm As  The Sun,” was featured in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It.”

Raised in NYC with Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage, Jose Ramon Rosario is a versatile artist with a multifaceted career. Over five decades, he has excelled both as an actor, collaborating with some of the most prominent figures in American entertainment, and as a musician, particularly as a percussionist and harpist, where his collaborations span across the globe with countless artists and projects.

The rich repertoire of the Buena Vista Social Club, brimming with poetry, humor, and rhythm, provides an ideal canvas for spontaneous improvisation and genuine expression of emotions. Wiss, Vargas, and Rosario, alongside several guest performers, extend a heartfelt invitation for you to join them in experiencing and cherishing that singular and enchanting moment together.