Felix Contreras

NPR Music's Felix Contreras remembers one of salsa music's architects — Eddie Palmieri — who died Wednesday at 88.

Some might call it whiplash, the way we sometimes zip from one genre of Latin music to another in our New Music shows. But I like to think of it as an expression of the richness and vitality of all music made under what is known as Latin music. This week's selections reinforce the idea that trying to identify this music under one heading is impossible. Let's just call it Good Music. Featured artists and songs: • Harold Lopez-Nussa, “Niña Con Violin" • Sofia Kourtesis, "Canela Pura" and "Ballumbrosio" • Lucrecia Dalt, “caes” and “cosa rara” • goodtoknow (paula prieto, benjamin walker, sir hope), "Mareas," "October" and "I’ll stay" • Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet, “Panabe” • Natanael Cano, “Presidente” and “El Juez” • Gabito Ballesteros and Carin Leon, “Regalo de Dios” The audio for this episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the Executive Producer of NPR Music and the madrina of Alt.Latino.

Global superstar Bad Bunny is hosting an unprecedented 30 concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fans are calling it a defining cultural moment for the island. Anamaria Sayre attended two recent shows and shared her reflections. Music featured in this episode:• Bad Bunny, "Callaita" • Bad Bunny, "Baile Inolvidable" • Los Pleneros de la Cresta, "Los de la Isla" • Gilberto Santa Rosa,"La Agarro Bajando" • Bad Bunny, "Lo Que Le Paso A Hawaii" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Noah Caldwell. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed.

Before Ana heads off to see Bad Bunny's unprecedented residency in Puerto Rico, we chat a little about why the celebration is significant to the island and Latin music in general. We also dig deep into new releases that include four different approaches to the guitar and a musician from Peru who defies genre to create his own musical language. Music heard in this episode:• Hermanos Gutiérrez, "Elegantly Wasted (ft. Leon Bridges)" • Bebo Dumont, "Hoy" • Eljuri, "Karma" • Yamil Quiere Ser Artista & Oliver Berg, "Bandido," "Gatito Miau Miau Miau" • Yasser Tejeda, "Una Cascada de Miel" • Yerai Cortés, "Sonar por Bulerías," • Judeline & Yerai Cortés, "Un puente por la Bahía, la Cruz del Campo" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Noah Caldwell. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed.

This week Ana and I share some of our long time favorites. While Ana leans into music discovery, I tend to bring more of the classics. In fact, I build playlists on a streaming service to mix music much like I did back in the era of the cassette tape. There is wide swath of music presented in the show this week. —Felix Contreras • Maestro Espada, "La despedida," "Tres gotas de rocío," and Peretas del Tío Vicente"• Lido Pimienta, "Ahora" • X Alfonso, Eme Alfonso & Síntesis "Rezo a Changó" • Simon Diaz, "Tonada De Luna Llena" • Raúl Rodríguez, Chano Domínguez & Martirio, "En Esta Tarde Gris" • Rita Payés & Silvia Pérez Cruz, "El Panadero" • Maria José Llergo, "Aprendiendo a Volar" • Amaia Miranda, "Canción para Amama" • Ataquemos, "Vilo" • incluso si nunca despiertas, "la lluvia no mata las flores" • Malo, "Suavecito" • Tommy James & The Shondells, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" • Hugh Masekela, "Grazing In The Grass" • War, "All Day Music" • El Chicano, "Viva Tirado" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Noah Caldwell. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed.

NPR Music received a record number of entries to this year's Tiny Desk Contest: 7,500. The judges discovered so many amazing entries, and now we're sharing some of those standouts here.

Ana and Felix break down Bad Bunny's latest political video. Hear their failed attempt at a blindfold listening game. Artists and songs featured in this episode: • Cheo, "Amor A Primera Vista" • babas tutsipop, "antonio banderas" and "cursi" • Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo, "Sirens" and "Tiralo" • Ryuichi Sakamoto "DOLPHINS" • Frank Zappa "While You Were Art II" • Pink Pablo, "ALL I DREAM," "OJOS AZUL" and "HORSES IN HEAVEN" • Wampi, "La Última" ft. Leoni Torres • Wampi, "La Diferencia" ft. Orlenis 22K, Ernesto Loso • Silvana Estrada, "Lila Alelí" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Noah Caldwell. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed.

Did we really squeeze the big sound of Living Colour behind the Tiny Desk? Yes, we did. And, yet, the band lost none of its intensity.

The influence of Eastern Europe immigration in Latin America can be heard in the way the accordion was adapted and adopted in countries like Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and beyond. This week we take a deep dive into those traditions with our guide, Eduardo Díaz, former director of Latino cultural information for the Smithsonian Institution. Featured artists and songs: • Narciso Martínez, "Nix" • Carlos Vives, "Hijo de Vallenato" • Los Corraleros de Majagual, "La Pollera Colorada" • Luis Gonzaga, "Asa Branca" • Grupo Alma Serrana, "Puerto Tirol" • Francisco Ulloa, "El Farolito" • Tatico Henriquez, "La Invasión de Deiziseis" Credits Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

The Broadway musical is a living, breathing and deeply grooving homage to a bygone era of Cuban music.