Son Cubano is a musical genre that originated in the mountains of eastern Cuba and rose in popularity throughout the 20th century. With its Spanish and African origins, call-and-response format, and infectious percussion beats, Son Cubano was a major influence on many other forms of music, from mambo and salsa to jazz and cha-cha-chá. But you can’t talk about Son Cubano without talking about Kiki Valera. Born the oldest son in the famous multigenerational musical family, La Familia Valera Miranda, Valera quite literally grew up living and breathing the deep-rooted musical traditions of eastern Cuba. Valera, like most of his family, is a virtuoso. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, sound engineer, and producer, he’s best known as one of the world’s greatest players of the Cuban cuatro, a mid-size, 8-stringed guitar. Today, Valera directs, composes, arranges, and performs internationally and performs and teaches in Seattle, where he contributes to the vibrant music scene of the Pacific Northwest.