The story behind this sound begins in late sixteenth-century Cuba. Spaniards had arrived years before, establishing a colonial system, decimating the Siboney and Taino Indian populations. That left the invaders short on the labor needed to mine for the yellow metal that made them so feverish. Enter the Yoruba people. The Yoruba brought more from their African west coast region (now named Nigeria) than labor. They also delivered their beliefs, rituals, dances, and music. The diaspora of the Yoruba - particularly its Cuban segment, the Lucumi - would yield another resonant culture: Afro-Cuban. One of today's foremost ambassadors of this is Pablo Menéndez and his band, Mezcla. Known for their fusion of Cuban jazz, Afro-Cuban rumba, and Cuban rock and son (salsa), the guitarist and his band have been influencing the Caribbean music scene since their formation in 1985. Renowned musician Carlos Santana once described Mezcla's music as "the cleanest, freshest water I have ever tasted."

PABLO MENENDEZ AND MEZCLA, 7:30 p.m., Schneebeck Concert Hall, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, free admission, 253.879.3700