The first event in the new series Deep Dive, which invites audiences to listen — really listen — to artists who have shaped our musical imagination, focuses on . The Puerto Rican reguetonero, in his latest album (DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS), encapsulates powerful messages of cultural resistance, joy, and resilience. To better understand the historical and political resonances in music, we welcome scholar Jorell Meléndez-Badillo and musician Miguel Zenón, who will guide the audience through selected tracks, offering a deep dive into the artist’s sound, style, and significance. Meléndez-Badillo, who collaborated with on his recent album and tour, is associate professor of Latin American and Caribbean History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of the award-winning book, Puerto Rico: A National History. Zenón, a masterful saxophonist and composer, and a former MacArthur Fellow, has released 17 albums, including the Grammy-winning El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2.Presented with H. Wiley Hitchcock Institute for Studies in American Music. Made possible with support from the Elebash Global Voices Fund.
