Carlos Varela

This concert will benefit Californians Building Bridges (CBB), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting cultural, humanitarian and entrepreneurial exchanges between the people of Cuba and California. Since making a return visit to the United States in 2009 after an absence of more than a decade, Varela's artistic presence and association with CBB has served to build bridges between these two countries. During his 2009 visit to Capitol Hill which included a jam session in the House Budget Committee Room, Carlos noted the importance of cultural music exchange, especially in the absence of meaningful diplomatic relations saying, "...music is not going to move governments, but it might move people, and people can move governments." (The New York Times) More information about CBB can be found online at www.cabuildingbridges.org.