Celebrate the heritage of Puerto Rican music and its African roots.

William Cepeda is a cultural icon of Puerto Rico. The four-time Grammy-nominated trombonist brings his revolutionary seven-piece Afro-Rican Jazz band to the FirstWorks stage. A protégé of the Dizzy Gillespie, Cepeda has created a new shade of jazz with a hip flavor, blending Puerto Rican roots, folk, progressive jazz and world music. Lydia Perez, an award-winning Afro-Taino artist from Rhode Island will lead dancers from the Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy in an energetic concert opener.

FREE, ALL-AGES MUSIC WORKSHOP: 4:00-5:00 PM

In the afternoon before his 6 PM performance, William will share his cultural heritage through a lively, free music workshop for families. Through hands-on activities, participants will explore the genres and evolution of Puerto Rican music (Taíno music, bomba, plena, música jíbara and danza). He will share instruments and select rhythm songs for each genre and participants will play Puerto Rican rhythms. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments.