Marta Elena y Su Orquesta

LONDON BREWERIES STAGE
THURSDAY 10:00PM-11:00PM

TD MAINSTAGE BANDSHELL
FRIDAY 8:45pm-9:30pm

In the history of salsa, not all `salseros' have been male artists, and Marta Elena is one of the notable exceptions. A first-class singer, composer, percussionist and band leader (Marta Elena y Su Orquesta), she belongs to a younger generation of Cuban musicians who are happy to honour the island nation's Afro-Latin musical roots while looking for new ways to express the music that courses through their country's veins. At age 18, Marta made her professional debut as a chorus member at Havana's famous Teatro Lirico Nacional, and later toured with the legendary all-female bands Anacaona and Caribe Girl.

A move to Toronto in 2011 put this premier salsera in high demand, leading to work with a who's who of the Canadian Latin music scene. Career highlights include a Koerner Hall guest appearance with Hilario Duran and his Latin Jazz Big Band, and a date at Edmonton jazz club Yardbird Suite in a quintet formation with Hilario.

TD Sunfest has a reputation for quality guaracha, cha-cha-cha, cumbia, rumba and salsa – and so, who better to lead this weekend’s sizzling Latin American dance party than Marta Elena, who proclaims, “Music only makes me stronger. It speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.”