Carlos Varela with special guests
About This Event
Cuban singer-songwriter Carlos Varela, whose career spans more than three decades and includes the song "Una Palabra," appears at NJPAC with his ensemble, Carlos Varela y su Banda, accompanied by special guests. Varela is known for thoughtful, often politically inflected lyrics that reflect Cuba's struggles and aspirations; the evening will foreground his rock/pop songwriting and collaborative arrangements.
About Una Palabra(song)
“Una Palabra” sits in the Rock/Pop register Carlos Varela has used for more than three decades to write about Cuba’s daily pressures and private hopes. The song’s power comes less from volume than from its literary economy, letting a small phrase carry moral and emotional weight. At NJPAC, Varela appears with Carlos Varela Y Su Banda, keeping the emphasis on words within a band-driven frame. No documented NYC premiere history is widely cited, but the piece has long circulated in New York’s Cuban and Latin music listening culture as a touchstone for reflective songwriting.
About the Artists
Carlos Varela Y Su Banda
Carlos Varela Y Su Banda is a musical ensemble led by Cuban singer-songwriter Carlos Varela, known for its contributions to the genre of Cuban music.
Carlos Varela
Experience the evocative sounds of Carlos Varela, a Cuban singer-songwriter whose music resonates deeply with the struggles and aspirations of his homeland. With a career spanning over three decades, Varela is celebrated for his profound and thought-provoking lyrics, as exemplified in songs like "Una Palabra.