Afro-Cuban Musician Bobi Céspedes Releases New Album “Mujer y Cantante”

Cuban singer Bobi Céspedes releases her new studio album Mujer y Cantante in celebration of her 40-year career and experience. 

 Bobi Céspedes

Bobi Céspedes represents and promotes Cuban music from the Bay Area in California. She specializes in Cuban son and is a composer, bandleader, and educator. She fronted the band Conjunto Céspedes creating unique music staying true to her roots. Her music fuses Cuban folklore and modern sounds. In the 90s her work with Conjunto Céspedes was notorious in the local music scene and internationally. She took a break from the band and toured with Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead and played the drums on his album Supralingua.

Throughout the past few years, Céspedes performed at several events and been a part of powerful lineups. She performed for the launch of the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture at the “Freedom Sounds Celebration” along with international legends Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello. Her music has been used in some television series and was a part of soundtracks for a few movies as well. 

Céspedes tribute to Celia Cruz in 2016 started a connection between her and SFJazz. She performed another tribute for Celia Cruz in 2019 and her band was a part of their series “Fridays at Five” and the performance was released on Oct. 2, 2020. Last year after the pandemic began, she appeared on the Kennedy Center’s Couch Concert Series.”

Mujer y Cantante, which translates to “Woman and Singer” is her latest release. It was initially released in June 2020 but has recently been officially introduced to the public. The album is personal, consisting of eight songs inspired by her family, upbringing, culture, spirituality and experience. Her sound returns to her Afro-Cuban roots and is led by Cuban son. The messages are drawn from the Yoruba-Lucimi traditions she practices and, prays to the Orishas to bring strength and guidance during these times. During the initial release, the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests were taking place and she wanted the album to be uplifting.

The rest of Conjunto Céspedes worked with her on Mujer y Cantante as well. It was co-produced by the Latin Grammy Award-winning producer, Kenya Autie and mixed as well as mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer, Oscar Autie. Céspedes takes another step in her acclaimed 40-year career with her newest work.  

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