The Institute (協会)

I think they are one of the best bands in the world. I saw them on a PBS special and immediately fell in love. I've got a number of their CD's and highly recommend them to anyone, even if you don't think you like Cuban music.

Very cool stuff. I've not been exposed to Afro-Latin much before, but I'll definitely look them up. I'm teaching a mid-level elementary age homeschooler class on music soon, and one thing I'm interested in is demonstrating the diverse ways various instruments can be used -- it's cool to have something beside jazz and classical to put in the brass and woodwind mix.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear stuff like that in Heaven, along with Bach, banjo, and steel drums.

Darden, I couldn't agree with you more. Their stuff is amazing. Absolutely amazing.

And the best thing about them is that they don't fall into the modern definition of what it means to be hip and cool. They just are.