In the compact bar at the Aqua Hotel, which feels like a cozy living room (with the bonus of friendly bartenders), the host fervently shares his or her musical passion. In the past clothing designer Fernando Garcia presented international ambient music and assorted esoterica; artist and architect team Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar offered their recordings from Caetano Veloso's London years; musician José Elias transported the audience to 1950s Africa; and artist Kevin Arrow played selections from his eccentric and expansive Sun Ra collection.
This Thursday evening the erudite and experimental musician (and Miami New Times art critic) Alfredo Triff will spin selections from his cache of recordings by celebrated Cuban vocalist Beny Moré. Cubaphiles might come to debate the merits of Moré's Conjunto Matamoros recordings versus his work with mambo king Dámaso Pérez Prado, but anyone interested in global music is welcome. No-shows won't miss out completely, though: The playlist, like others in the series, will eventually be posted on the Rhythm Foundation Website (www.rhythmfoundation.com).
"I thought this would be a different way to connect with music lovers, and it has really worked," says Quinlan, who has brought multifarious world musicians to perform in Miami over the last decade. "So many people have some special thing in their music collection, and they all want to be the DJ."
