There are two shows in one Village jazz club called Zinc Bar every Thursday night, and they are always magical. The one I recently attended was on February 8th.
Every Thursday night for over a decade, the “Voice of Cuba” Xiomarra Laugart Sanchez has been performing for NYC Cuban jazz lovers at Zinc Bar on W. 3rd Street in Greenwich Village.
According to the owner Alex, Xiomarra (pronounced zi-o-marra) previously had a regular Saturday night gig at Zinc Bar. It would appear to go back to the late 90s. How many acts today can say they’ve held the same gig for 25 years? That’s talent and consistency.
Xiomarra has truly earned her moniker as “Voice of Cuba.” Before emigrating to the United States, she had an extensive career performing “nueva trova” music in Cuba, where she has recorded over 17 albums.
Born in the Guantanamo province of Cuba, Xiomarra attended college and pursued a degree in economics. She later began her musical career through the nueva trova musical political protest movement, which was popular throughout the 1960s and 1990s.
Xiomarra takes a bow on stage at Zinc Bar. Photo by Kaju Roberto.
Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz
Xiomarra caught a big break in NYC in 2007. She was cast as Celia Cruz in the Off-Broadway musical, Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, which was a tribute to the life of the late Cuban-American singer.
Celia ran at New World Stages in New York from September 2007 until May 2008. During that tour period, the musical made stops at: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Boston, as well as completing a South American tour. The musical won four Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) awards in 2008.
Every Thursday is a Family Affair
Thursday nights at Zinc Bar are truly a “family affair” indeed when Xiomara Laugart, the “Queen of Trova,” takes the stage. She is backed up by her brilliant son Axel on piano and his brilliant Axel Tosca Trio. Xiomarra’s husband (and Axel’s father) is Cuban folk singer Alberto Tosca.
It was about three-quarters into the set when Axel stood up touting to the audience, “Now we’re going to take you back to Cuba, but you won’t need a passport!” Proudly introducing his mom to the stage, on cue he perfectly began playing his spirited lilting interpretation of “El Manisero,” the classic anthology song of a peanut vendor. “The Queen of Trova” dipped and swayed about on the stage with her infectious smile and delivered a purely magical vocal rendition.
Xiomara ended the set with a jubilant performance of “De mis Recuerdos,” swaying to the rhythms while bringing the entire house up on their feet chanting calls and responses to the song’s signature hook “Ba, ba, dom, Ba dom, Ba, dom.”
This song (written by Juan Formell) is off of Xiomara’s 2006 album. Axel’s lively arrangement at Zinc Bar with a samba vibe was the best version I’ve heard to date, and such a fitting way to end the set, leaving an indelible mark to be remembered by all.
Xiomarra: An Irresistible Force of Nature
With patrons dancing in the aisles to Xiomarra’s irresistible energy and swaying rhythms with smiles everywhere, while vamping those lilting piano chords throughout the closing outro music of “De mis Recuerdos,” Axel got on the mic and said, “Thank you folks, this is the Cuban Jam. See you at the next show at 11:00 p.m!”
A perfect “feel good” ending to a “Must See” Thursday night show with Xiomarra and the Axel Tosca Trio LIVE in the Village that should be on anyone’s NYC bucket list!
To learn more about Xiomarra Laugart, the “Voice of Cuba” and her son’s band, The Axel Tosca Trio, and to see 2024 Tour Dates, go toaxeltosca.com
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Link to the Village View article: https://villageview.nyc/2024/03/03/xiomarra-laugart-the-voice-of-cuba-does-it-again-at-zinc-bar/
Kaju Roberto is an accomplished musician, singer/ songwriter, journalist, and an award-winning producer. He is the artist Rad Jet on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/artist/32si7c4nk210HPuqbXvhJg