José Soto's The Ancestral Call

Creating awareness about the importance of the ancestral knowledge of the indigenous Bribri people of Costa Rica and making visible the rapidly disappearing language and culture of this society serves as inspiration for Costa Rican composer, José Soto, whose Lincoln Center premiere celebrates the release of his debut album, The Ancestral Call. Soto's project is the culmination of years of study and direct engagement with the Bribri, particularly through their cultural ambassador Alí García Segura, whose voice provides a connecting thread throughout the work. With a core band featuring Soto on the piano alongside an international cast that includes Maria Amalia Quesada, Yulia Musayelyan, Brian Urra, Stefano Battaglia, and George Lernis, The Ancestral Call utilizes contemporary jazz to engage in a remarkable conversation with ancient tradition.

This performance features live digital art by Pablo Vargas Unfried.