"Now actually, I'm not crazy about that term 'Latin' to describe this kind of music, because it tells only part of the story," Leonard Bernstein remarked on his March 1963 broadcast of the Young People's Concert series.

Today, we're exploring the other part of the story together.

Listen to a full version of this show here (to be uploaded within a day or two): https://www.mixcloud.com/deirdre_dionysiac/

Contemporary Latin América(s)

(or, free format programming focused on Latin America)

Oftentimes, when I’ve played music from Latin America, I go back to the 70s and 80s to some of the OG salseros, soneros, a bit of música popular brasileira and trópicalia, and ensembles from the moment Latin music blew up around the world. A lot of it is what I grew up listening to growing up that deserves more time on the airwaves, especially to a multilingual audience like WPRB. But there’s sooooo much more out there that is happening right now in scenes across Latin America that is worth cherishing. “Latin music” is a strange category; imagine trying to define any other genre of music based on the nationality of its musicmakers. Today, I’m trying to offer a sample of contemporary music by Latin American and Latinx performers, in genres ranging from rock (especially metal from Brazil), neoperreo (or, the beautiful thing that happens reggaetón meets hyperpop), salsa, electronica, and so much more.

A̲̲p̲̲r̲̲i̲̲l̲̲ 2̲̲6̲̲,̲̲ 2̲̲0̲̲2̲̲6̲̲: A show dedicated to jam sessions and spectacular grooves

With DJ Readie Righteous!!

I pulled some of the best grooves, jams, and rhythms I could find from my record collection (mostly) to end our Spring Drive on a high note!

pledge.wprb.com

pledge.wprb.com

pledge.wprb.com

pledge.wprb.com

pledge.wprb.com

join me for the textural, the estranged, and the cutesy..... with chef patti

April 5, 2026

Every show I have done so far has been focused on sound, instrument, and ensemble. This week, we change things up by celebrating vocalists and the voice in music!

DJ Bibim subbing in, enjoy some y2K !

░M░a░r░c░h░ ░1░5░,░ ░2░0░2░6░

An all acoustic show to switch things up a bit!

𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍 8, 2026

No theme today! Keeping it low key today--I'm sure we're all a bit tired with the time adjustment. I'm trying to branch a bit out of my comfort zone and play more music outside of salsa and sounds from Latin America.

~≋̮̑̑M̮̮̮̑̑̑̑ȃ̮̮̮̑̑̑ȓ̮̮̮̑̑̑c̮̮̮̑̑̑̑ḫ ̮̑̑1̮̮̮̑̑̑̑,̮ ̮̑̑2̮̮̮̑̑̑̑0̮̮̮̑̑̑̑2̮̮̮̑̑̑̑6̮≋~

Willie Colón passed away last week on February 21, 2026. He was one of the most admired musicians on the Fania music label, performing with Ruben Blades, Héctor Lavoe, and more. His trombone playing revolutionized Latin music and helped define the New York salsa sound of the 1970s.

Colón, like many musicians, lived a complicated life. While songs like "El Gran Verón" challenged transphobia in the Latine community, he became more openly prejudiced towards marginalized groups in his later years in life.

I encourage you all to read about Willie Colón and his story, both his music and his more questionable statements later in life, as we listen to some of his most famous songs and underrated B-Sides. We'll also hear highlights from Fania, like Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, and the Fania All-Stars, among others.

Subbing in for Edward glissando with DJ bibim^^

you'll be sent to early 2000s south korea ㅋㅋㅋ

woah...

⑅*ॱ˖•. ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩F̖̽ͅe̤̣͑͗b̗̹͗r̰̣̂̀u̦̣̒a͔̩͐͑̈́r̹͓̈y̼̍ͅ ͕͙̈́̏1͔̥̊͗͗5̤̤̽,͔̼̒̏ ̖͎̀2͓̟̔0̤͕͗2̰̔̋ͅ6̖̥̩̥̋ͅ*̩̩͙‧͙ .•˖ॱ*⑅

It's my third show! No structure or theme this week—the usual salsa, son, tropicalia, etc. mixed with sounds from elsewhere.

░F░e░b░r░u░a░r░y░ ░8░,░ ░2░0░2░6░

7-8 am: Open format! Spoken word! Harmonies! Noise! Etc! More etc!!

8-9 am: Celebrating Puerto Rican music and the musicians inspired by Puerto Rican artists

Bad Bunny's and his universe shattering album DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS has been making a lot of headlines recently, both after winning album of the year at the Grammys and his halftime show performance later today.

It seems like everyone has something to say about Bad Bunny, reggaetón, and Puerto Rican music in general. Too often, though, music fans will be able to decipher between different niches of metal and punk but can't tell the difference between bomba and plena. Today, let's take a step back and listen to the sounds that inspired Bad Bunny's latest project, among many other musicians from Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the diaspora.

First installment of some worldly echoes!