THE MUSIC OF CUBA
The Long Weekend Havana experience will feature live traditional and modern Cuban music performances, curated by locally based, renowned Cuban composer and pianist, Alejandro Del Valle. Original audio recorded in the bars, the cafes and the streets of Havana during our recent visits complement the aural immersion throughout the establishment.
Live music will pop-up in the various spaces inside the building. It could be a Cuban trio serenading tables in the Barra Principal, or a Cuban Reggaeton DJ surprising the guests in the underground "La Bóveda" bar.
Cuban Salsa lessons are on in the works, so keep an eye on our music calendar below.
DJ Leydis
Salsa, Timbo, Songo y Mas!
Born and raised in Cuba, DJ Leydis combines contemporary hits with a distinct fusion of Latin flavors, R&B classics, and roots reggae blends. Involved in the Cuban hip-hop movement since its inception, DJ Leydis helped organize some of the country’s most respected and best-attended events and community programs. She cofounded Omegas Kilay, a hip-hop theater collective in Havana focused on presenting the poetry, music, experiences, and perspectives of artists such as DJ Yari, Danay Suarez, Nono, La LLave De IPG, La Negra, and Las Krudas. DJ Leydis co-created the first all-female DJ mixtape in Cuba, contributing a special blend of new flavor and spirit to the international community.
Later, DJ Leydis migrated to United States to expand upon her work as a DJ and has worked with Erykah Badu, Quest Love of the Roots, and other iconic US-based artists.
With this being her first show at Long Weekend Havana, it’s set to be massive…!
DJ bselektiv
DJ bselektiv is a music curator, vinyl collector and North Beach local, has played across the City’s favorite bars and clubs, throughout the U.S., Burning Man and in the heart of Cuba. Bselektiv brings a night of Habana energy to the dance floor blending Cuban classics, reggaeton, and underground Latin beats.
For his first set at the Long Weekend expect the riddim of reggae + hip hop mixed to serve his distinct blend of Cuban Reggaeton. It’s marked by a base of traditional Cuban dance rhythms interspersed with modern Caribbean rhythms such as Soca, calypso kin and dance hall.
It’s Halloween, and this guy is scary good on the decks…..
KAI LYONS’ CUBAN TRIO
Kai Lyons is from the Excelsior District of San Francisco and was surrounded by music and community from an early age. He completed his studies at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in 2012 as the first to graduate from the acclaimed Classical Guitar Program, directed by Scott Cmiel. From 2012-2014, on full scholarship, Kai attended the prestigious jazz program at William Paterson University of New Jersey, directed by Mulgrew Miller. He studied with Vincent Herring, Gene Bertoncini, Harold Mabern, Rich Perry, and Hal Galper.
Kai received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University where he studied with Andrew Speight, Michael Zisman and Hafez Modirzadeh.
Ever since returning to the Bay Area in 2015, he has freelanced extensively and also traveled frequently to New York City, New Orleans, Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean on music trips. In 2018 he participated in Master Class: Orff-Afrique 2018 in Ghana, Africa.
Besides working with his own trio, Kai has performed with Mike Clark and Donald Harrison of Herbie Hancock’s Original Headhunters, The San Francisco Ballet and the 2024 production of Carmen composed by Arturo O’Farrill, Karl Perazzo, John Santos, award-winning organist Wil Blades and Larry Vuckovich.
Alejandro del Valle
Alejandro Del Valle - Piano
Ryan Trujillo – Bass
Ricardo Lomeli Gomez – Drums
Alejandro Del Valle is a self-taught master pianist, arranger and composer for bands, orchestras, dance music and music for film. Born in Cuba, he recently moved to the Bay Area after spending 25 years working in France. He has toured over 20 countries, including Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Brazil, Canada and Cuba. Alejandro is also an educator and conducted master classes at the Salon de Provence and the Poitiers Conservatory. He was the Music Director of “Les Orientales”, arranging and directing a 2-hour performance of Arabo-Andalusian Music by an orchestra at the National Theater of Algiers, the Francofolies de la Rochelle, at the Theatre Mogador in Paris and the “Fiesta du Sud” in Marcelle.
His latest project “Picking Up the Pieces” is a retrospective on his work, a musical conversation between his past and present as he navigates the uncertainty of a new life in the US.