Pablo Batista's El Viaje (the Journey) at Temple Performing Arts Center

On June 25 and 26, 2016 percussionist Pablo Batista will lead the premiere performance of El Viaje (The Journey), an extended work in music, dance, sound and light. El Viaje tells the story of forced emigration from Africa to the Americas, and how spiritual and cultural resilience ultimately enabled slaves to adapt and re-establish themselves with dignity in diaspora.

Combining Afro-Cuban bata drumming and chant with elements from European classical, jazz and blues, R & B, funk and salsa, El Viaje reflects the journey of captive African cultures as they were blended and transformed in into Afro-Caribbean culture over five centuries. ...

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On June 25 and 26, 2016 percussionist Pablo Batista will lead the premiere performance of El Viaje (The Journey), an extended work in music, dance, sound and light. El Viaje tells the story of forced emigration from Africa to the Americas, and how spiritual and cultural resilience ultimately enabled slaves to adapt and re-establish themselves with dignity in diaspora.

Combining Afro-Cuban bata drumming and chant with elements from European classical, jazz and blues, R & B, funk and salsa, El Viaje reflects the journey of captive African cultures as they were blended and transformed in into Afro-Caribbean culture over five centuries.

It also reflects Batista's lifelong study of Afro-Cuban drumming, and 30 years of touring -- including 9 years with Grover Washington Jr. -- and 12 years with Alicia Keys -- and session work on Grammy winning recordings in jazz, rhythm and blues and gospel,

Philly's drummer to the stars comes home to tell his ancestral story, our story, everybody's story in an uplifting and unforgettable mix of Afro-Caribbean music, dance, light and imagery.

Says Batista: "The Journey a story rooted in my own family coming to Pennsylvania from Puerto Rico as immigrants in search of work. But it also speaks to others because migration under duress has been the arc of experience for so many different ethnic groups all over the world: Irish, Chinese, Italian, Jewish, Latino, Vietnamese, Arab. Check out the news, and it's true even moreso today."

Major support for Pablo Batista's El Viaje (The Journey) has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from Temple University, Boyer College of Music and Dance, WURD and The Next Majority and Taller Puertorriqueno.

Community partners include Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Painted Bride Arts Center, Pasion y Arte, Philadelphia Jazz Project, Philadelphia Folklore Project, Intercultural Journeys, and Philadelphia Latino Film Festival.

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