Felix Contreras

Felix Contreras is a reporter and producer for NPR's Arts Desk specializing in coverage of jazz, world music, and Latino arts and culture. He is also the co-host of Alt.Latino, NPR's new web based program about Latin Alternative music.

As a producer and reporter for the NPR's Arts desk, Contreras has covered arts and technology issues; reported a series of stories on the financial challenges facing aging jazz musicians; and recently profiled a legendary Mexican singer for the "50 Great Voices" series. He once stood on the stage of the legendary jazz club The Village Vanguard after interviewing the club's owner and swears he felt the spirits of Coltrane and Monk walking through the room.

A part- time jazz musician, Contreras plays Afro Cuban percussion with various jazz and Latin bands. He is a recovering television journalist who has worked for both NBC and Univision.

Alt.Latino
12:34 pm
Thu May 16, 2013

A Kind Of Magic: New Latin Music, Sprinkled With Discovery Dust

Originally published on Thu May 16, 2013 3:10 pm

Tiny Desk Concerts
5:21 pm
Mon April 22, 2013

Omar Sosa & Paolo Fresu: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit Lizzie Chen / NPR

Originally published on Mon May 6, 2013 10:21 am

You don't really listen to an Omar Sosa concert so much as experience it. The Cuban-born pianist's overall demeanor exudes a sense of calm and deep reflection, while a spiritual connection to music and his ancestors comes through in his piano playing.

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A Blog Supreme
12:55 pm
Sat April 20, 2013

Tito Puente: 90 Years Of Getting People To Dance

Originally published on Sat April 20, 2013 7:38 pm

The percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente would have celebrated his 90th birthday this weekend on April 20. And the recently released box set Quatro: The Definitive Collection is a great place to start celebrating the once and forever King of Latin Music. It captures the driving sound of big band mambo and cha-cha-cha that launched people onto dance floors for decades.

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Alt.Latino
3:37 pm
Thu April 18, 2013

Guest DJ With California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera

Originally published on Sat April 20, 2013 9:54 am

SXSW: Live From Austin
2:04 pm
Mon April 1, 2013

Bajofondo, Live In Concert: SXSW 2013

Credit NPR

Originally published on Tue April 2, 2013 9:59 pm

  • Bajofondo, Recorded Live At Auditorium Shores

With eight accomplished musicians from Argentina and Uruguay, and a sound rooted in tango traditions, Bajofondo lays out a visual and aural feast. Led by Oscar and Grammy winner Gustavo Santaolalla, the group mashes up traditional candombe sounds and other forms with electronica to produce a mix that's hypnotic and danceable.

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SXSW: Live From Austin
2:11 pm
Tue March 19, 2013

Molotov, Live In Concert: SXSW 2013

Originally published on Thu April 11, 2013 10:02 am

  • Molotov, Recorded Live At Auditorium Shores

Politics and rock en Español go hand in hand, and Mexico City's Molotov is a flag-waver for that combination. The band formed in 1995 during an era in which seismic political changes transformed Mexican society; from the start, Molotov's music pointed fingers at economic and political institutions — and even aging rock stars.

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Alt.Latino
11:45 am
Thu January 10, 2013

This Week On Alt.Latino: Guest DJ Sandra Cisneros

Originally published on Thu January 10, 2013 2:47 pm

Alt.Latino
10:30 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Love And Rockets (And Music): Comic-Book Pioneers Gil & Jaime Hernandez

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 11:20 pm

Tiny Desk Concerts
5:20 pm
Mon September 24, 2012

Yva Las Vegass: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit Lauren Rock / NPR
Yva Las Vegas plays a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

At NPR Music, we get stacks of CDs in the mail, as well as countless links to music streams, from bands trying to stand out and get some attention. It's safe to say that we all share similar previewing procedures: At some point, we just sit and listen.

What are we listening for? I can't speak for the others, but I'm constantly in search of music I haven't heard, but which sounds as if it's been in my life forever.

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