Felix Contreras

Felix Contreras is a reporter and producer for NPR's Arts Desk specializing in coverage of jazz, world music, and Latino arts and culture. He is also the co-host of Alt.Latino, NPR's new web based program about Latin Alternative music.

As a producer and reporter for the NPR's Arts desk, Contreras has covered arts and technology issues; reported a series of stories on the financial challenges facing aging jazz musicians; and recently profiled a legendary Mexican singer for the "50 Great Voices" series. He once stood on the stage of the legendary jazz club The Village Vanguard after interviewing the club's owner and swears he felt the spirits of Coltrane and Monk walking through the room.

A part- time jazz musician, Contreras plays Afro Cuban percussion with various jazz and Latin bands. He is a recovering television journalist who has worked for both NBC and Univision.

Pages

Alt.Latino
9:58 am
Thu December 6, 2012

How The Wolf Survived: 40 Years Of Los Lobos

Credit Drew Reynolds
Los Lobos.

Originally published on Mon June 17, 2013 10:21 am

  • Hear Los Lobos Play Guest DJ
The Record
1:41 pm
Fri November 16, 2012

Jesse & Joy, Juanes Win Big At Latin Grammys

Credit Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images
Jesse & Joy accept one of their four awards during the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Originally published on Fri November 16, 2012 3:31 pm

Alt.Latino
11:32 am
Thu November 15, 2012

Cuban Sounds: From Mambo To Pop, And Back Again

Originally published on Mon June 17, 2013 10:24 am

Tiny Desk Concerts
1:03 pm
Mon November 12, 2012

Flaco Jimenez: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit Lauren Rock / NPR
Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca play a Tiny Desk Concert on Oct. 3.

Watching Flaco Jimenez play his button accordion is like looking back in time. His grandfather started playing an accordion in cantinas and family parties along the Texas/Mexican border around the late 1800s. Then Flaco's dad, Santiago Jimenez Sr., carried on the family tradition when he released his first record in 1936.

Read more
Alt.Latino
9:30 am
Thu September 27, 2012

Love And Rockets (And Music): Comic-Book Pioneers Gil & Jaime Hernandez

Originally published on Thu September 27, 2012 10:20 pm

Tiny Desk Concerts
4:20 pm
Mon September 24, 2012

Yva Las Vegass: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit Lauren Rock / NPR
Yva Las Vegas plays a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

At NPR Music, we get stacks of CDs in the mail, as well as countless links to music streams, from bands trying to stand out and get some attention. It's safe to say that we all share similar previewing procedures: At some point, we just sit and listen.

What are we listening for? I can't speak for the others, but I'm constantly in search of music I haven't heard, but which sounds as if it's been in my life forever.

Read more
Tiny Desk Concerts
9:38 am
Mon August 27, 2012

Renaud Garcia-Fons: Tiny Desk Concert

Credit Michael Katzif / NPR
Renaud Garcia Fons performs a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

Originally published on Mon May 6, 2013 9:06 am

Double bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons was destined to create music that spans genres and borders: He was born in France to a family with roots in the Catalonia region of Spain, and he's fluent in French, Spanish and English. Classical, jazz and flamenco represent equal parts of his musical DNA, and his technique reflects the delicate arco stylings of concert halls, the deep groove of jazz and the raw vitality of flamenco.

Read more
Alt.Latino
9:53 am
Thu July 26, 2012

Guest DJ: Camilo Lara From Mexican Institute Of Sound

Credit Thomas Bregardis / AFP/Getty Images
Mexican Institute of Sound singer and producer Camilo Lara.

Originally published on Mon June 17, 2013 10:08 am

  • Hear This Week's Show
Alt.Latino
11:40 am
Fri July 13, 2012

L.A. Soul, Chilean Hip-Hop, Colombian Cumbia And More

Originally published on Mon July 16, 2012 2:46 pm

Alt.Latino
11:39 am
Thu July 5, 2012

Guest DJ: KCRW's Raul Campos Previews The LAMC

Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 12:36 pm

Every July, fans of Latin alternative music gather in New York for the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) to see and hear their favorite bands and maybe catch a peek at artists who will become big stars.

For the third year, Alt.Latino is packing our bags for a week of panel discussions, musical showcases, and opportunities to meet and greet bands and industry folks.

Read more

Pages