WEDNESDAYS, 6-8 PM

IN-PERSON, 4 WEEKS (This class meets in-person with the option to join online if needed.)

SEPTEMBER 10, 17, 24, and OCT 1

$150

Celia Cruz, the legendary Queen of Salsa, was the vibrant voice at the heart of a genre born from the immigrant experience in America. While Salsa’s rhythmic roots trace back to Afro-Cuban son, its modern form blossomed in New York City, shaped by the creativity of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican immigrants who infused it with jazz, funk, and diverse Latin influences.

This 4-week course, designed for jazz enthusiasts, centers on Celia Cruz’s extraordinary legacy as a cultural icon and musical innovator. Through listening, analysis, and interpretation of key songs—Oye Como Va, Quimbara, La Vida es un Carnaval, Guantanamera, and Quizás, Quizás, Quizás—students will explore how Salsa mirrors jazz’s improvisational spirit, rhythmic complexity, and cultural hybridity.

By tracing the genre’s evolution and Celia’s role as its ambassador, this course reveals how Salsa is a uniquely American sound, created through the resilience and creativity of immigrant communities. Join us to deepen your understanding of how Celia Cruz and Salsa helped shape the American musical landscape and continue to inspire across generations.