Just Added: Opening Act by Flaco Navaja & La Cantera

Co-produced with the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

Admission: $25 | $30 at the door | ($20 ILCC members)

Empanadas, and non-alcoholic spirits and beverages available for purchase.

BYOB Event (Beer and Wine only) 

From Havana, Cuba, street poet Telmary Diaz has emerged as a leader and trendsetter on the cutting edge of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba. As a rapper, Telmary uses her distinctive voice, at times deep and soulful, at times fast and aggressive, to proclaim a positive, empowering message that contrasts with the genre’s commercial norm. After working with Free Hole Negro in 1999 and Interactivo in 2002, she launched her solo career with A Diario, produced by acclaimed Cuban pianist and Interactivo leader Roberto Carcasses and winner of the Cubadisco award for Best Hip Hop Album in 2007. After seven years in Toronto, Canada, she returned to Havana where she formed her band Habana Sana. Her CD Libre was awarded the 2014 Cubadisco Prize for best Hip Hop recording. While performing with HabanaSana in Havana, Telmary continues to collaborate with a flurry of Cuban and international artists including Interactivo with whom she toured the U.S. in 2016, Pedrito Martinez and Doctor John.

Flaco Navaja

Flaco Navaja is a singer, poet, actor, who is born and raised in the Bronx. He sings in both Spanish and English and has toured with various groups across the globe. He currently resides in Humboldt Park, Chicago where he leads his band, Flaco Navaja and the Razor Blades.

If Héctor Lavoe Boxed Rubén Blades and KRS-1 was the referee you’d get Flaco. A Nostalgic old sound with brand new spoken word.

Navaja’s original style of poetry combines singing, beat-boxing, and spoken word. He was the host of the legendary open mic showcase; “All That! Hip Hop Poetry & Jazz” at the famous Nuyorican Poets’ Cafe. He has performed at national and international venues and events. In 2003, he toured internationally with the Tony Award winning Russell Simmons’ Def Poerty Jam and he has appeared on four episodes of the HBO series.

Navaja is a member of Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in several films & television shows.

La Cantera

Directed by piano player Adrian Ruiz, La Cantera is SRBCC’s Afro-Caribbean Jazz performance ensemble for youth (ages 19-24). The program was born at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in 2018 and is known for incorporating young veterans of Ruiz Belvis’ Afro-Caribbean Jazz and Afro-Latin Percussion apprenticeships with guest appearances by the city’s top local and touring Latin music talent. Through a dynamic schedule participants engage in the business of musical performance, learning to leverage their talents and exposure. Credits include performances with Grammy nominee Paoli Mejías, Jonathan Suazo (New York Times #6 in list of Best 10 Jazz Albums of 2023), Opening Act for Grammy Winners Third Coast Percussion.