New York: Cuban Jewish Festival, June 20

Celebrate Cuban Jewish Life with an evening of music, dance, video and art on Saturday, June 20. Doors open at 7pm at the 92nd Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson Street, New York City.

The evening is in support of the Cuba Jewish Music Library (CJML)Project. The grassroots effort was founded by Ladino singer Sarah Aroeste and composer/percussionist Roberto Rodriguez. The goal is to help build Jewish music libraries across Cuba. For more details, click here. A part of the night's proceeds go towards the CJML.

The evening is also in partnership with Be'chol Lashon (In Every Tongue) and Judios Latinos of New York.

Rodriguez and Tzadik Records which will release their new album - Timba Talmud - the music is Cuban-Jewish fusion sound performed by a Son Monuno and Guaracha which "meet the Jewish tradition in a beautiful and sensitive collection of Latin Klezmer." For more, click here.

Listen to his versions of Cuban/Latin Klezmer with clips from the new album here. Listen to La Hora, Mambo Kitsch, Danzonete Emanuel, The Son of 2nd Avenue, Timba Talmud. His other albums are there as well. Try the Turkish-Bulgarish, Wolfie's Corner, Paseo del Prado and others.

If you can listen to these clips without getting up and dancing, are you sure you have a pulse?

Aroeste and Rodriguez will perform and premiere their original Cuban-Sephardic music project with guests. There will be a salsa presentation and dance party by Franck Muhel, an art ext exhibit by Cuban painter Javier Gonzalez Gallos, documentary screenings and more surprises.

Tickets are $15 advance, $18 at the door; click here for details.