Xiomara Laugart
Arthur's Tavern57 Grove Street, New York 10014
Xiomara Laugart performs at Arthur’s Tavern on November 18. Billed on her own, the evening centers on the Cuban singer whose repertoire moves readily through jazz influences alongside the music she has long represented from Cuba. Expect a vocal-led set from an artist the venue calls “The Voice of Cuba,” a designation tied to her recording of “Hoy mi Habana,” heard by arrivals at Havana’s José Martí International Airport.
A native of Cuba, Laugart has performed internationally for more than 30 years and recorded over 17 albums in her homeland. Known there as “La Negra,” she was a muse to Nueva Trova artists and has recorded and shared stages with Omara Portuondo, Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, and Raúl Torres. After arriving in New York, she appeared as a featured guest vocalist on Kip Hanrahan’s Deep Rumba, Ellipsis Art’s Latin Lullaby, and Jacky Terrasson’s Blue Note album What It Is. She was also a founding member and lead vocalist of Yerba Buena; the collective’s 2003 debut, President Alien, received a Grammy nomination. The venue describes her sound as “liquid” and garrulous, with a range that makes jazz feel like a natural extension of her repertoire.
Arthur's Tavern is a basement club in the West Village where jazz, Latin, and blues are played with deep roots and modern energy. The stage is small, the room intimate, and the audience sits close to the musicians, often with a few people standing near the back. Shows start around 5 PM and go late, with some sets extending into the early hours. The club has a history of hosting top-tier performers since 2001, including regular appearances by Yuichi Hirakawa Jazz Group. It's a place where music is the center, and conversation flows naturally between the audience and the performers.