Nick Moran, La Combi

Jazz. $20.

media release: In a unique evening blending live performance, education, and irresistible rhythm, bassist and UW educator Nick Moran presents “Talking Timba” with La Combi featuring Emy Castro and Juan Tomás Martínez at Café Coda. The two-part event will explore and celebrate the vibrant world of Cuban timba, a dynamic dance music genre that continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

The night begins with a performance-lecture led by Moran that dives deep into the role of the bass in timba’s evolution tracing how the instrument’s rhythmic patterns, tone, and groove have shaped the genre’s explosive energy since its emergence in Cuba during the 1990s. Joined by vocalists Emy Castro and Juan Tomás Martínez, along with a powerhouse ensemble of Madison’s top musicians, Moran will demonstrate the bass’s central voice in driving timba’s modern sound through a series of live examples and performance.

For the second set, Madison’s own La Combi, featuring Emy Castro and special guests, will take the stage to keep the energy high and the dance floor full. The group will deliver an eclectic mix of timba, salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia promising a night of infectious rhythms and joyful movement.