All Songs Considered Alt.Latino: A Tribute to Felix
Sep 10, 2025
Cuban singer Daymé Arocena joins a heartfelt tribute to Felix Contreras, celebrating his impactful work in Latin music and journalism. They share heartfelt anecdotes that reflect on Felix's connections within the community and his dual role as a musician and storyteller. The discussion touches on the legacy of jazz legend Chucho Valdez and how music fosters identity and belonging. Arocena highlights the power of music in reflecting the Latino experience, intertwining laughter and gratitude to honor a friend and a pillar of the music community.
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Musical Family Roots
- Felix describes a musical childhood with parents who sang and hosted big family parties.
- His brothers became his first musical explorers, playing drums, guitar and saxophone.
Discovery Through Backward Listening
- Felix discovered jazz and fusion as a teenager and then dug backward into earlier styles.
- Hearing salsa's piano tumbao opened his world to Afro‑Latin rhythms and changed his musical trajectory.
Connecting Jazz And Afro‑Cuban Lineage
- Felix traces Latin jazz roots to early collaborations like Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo.
- Reissues and record‑store hunts helped him assemble a wider, historic musical picture.