El Laberinto del Coco: Tiny Desk x globalFEST

In 2021, the Tiny Desk x globalFEST series was created to promote international music discovery. For the last three years, artists from around the globe have performed Tiny Desk (home) concerts from their respective countries, but for the first time this year, artists performed at the Tiny Desk at NPR's headquarters.
Felix Contreras | April 5, 2024
The island of Puerto Rico has become known for various musical styles that have influenced not just Latin music, but also global musical trends. From the Afro Caribbean styles that make up the salsa boom of the 1970s, to the "BOOM-chicka-BOOM" of the reggaeton beat that came to dominate the charts, Puerto Rican musicians innovate while never straying far from tradition.
That idea inspired percussionist Hector "Coco" Barez to create the group El Laberinto del Coco, a genre-bending collective built around the folklore and rhythmic styles of bomba. The group's message is clear from the opening grooves of "Se Vuelve Miel" that Barez's vision is to dig deep into the African roots of call-and-response with four vocalists and four horn players to remind us throughout its performance of the power of bomba to create community.
Special mention should be made of the presence of musician Jerry Medina, a musical treasure and icon from the island who has performed with the biggest names in Afro Caribbean music as a vocalist and trumpeter - in this case adding voca rumba percussion and sound effects.
SET LIST
"Se Vuelve Miel"
"El Silencio"
"Todo Va a Estar Bien"
"La Bambula"
"Canción de Repertorio"
MUSICIANS
Hector "Coco" Barez: musical direction, tambor primo
Andrés "Kino" Cruz: tambor buleador
Efrain Martinez: drums
Manuel "Kike" Rodriguez: bass
Jorge Andres Ferreras Pujol "Patillazz": electric guitar
Daniel Ramirez Amador: trumpet
Luis Francisco Colon: tenor sax
Jomar Santana: trombone
Janice Maisonet: baritone sax
Chamir Bonano: cantora
KIaní Medina: cantora
Antoinette Rodriguez: cantora
Soreimi Bezares: cantora
Jerry Medina: cantaor
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Felix Contreras
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Kwesi Lee
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Creative Designer: Jackie Lay
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
globalFEST Team: Isabel Soffer, Bill Bragin, Shanta Thake, Zion Jackson, Ian Thake
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#tinydesk #nprmusic #lelaberintodelcoco

[@S.Shea2432]

Dear Tiny Desk, From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say, THANK Y'all So Much for giving all of Us countless varieties of music!! Y'all Rock!! Btw, From their Breathtakingly Beautiful voices, beautiful, much needed lyrics like how Our World needs PEACE, & from the beautiful instruments/music, & vibes, The whole performance was Beautiful, it left me in Awe. 🥰 Everything was ABSOLUTE 🔥!! PEACE. 💜 🕊 ✌🏼 💜

[@r.d1331]

So many great musicians and singers that we don't normally get to see on Tv. Thank you Tiny desk

[@jeffreyhyder2429]

Homie forgot his shaker, but looks like he don’t need it 🤣🤣🤣.

[@Mistic00727]

What do you mean?

[@hlkndeath6668]

Best coment for sure 😂

[@lonwaboqozeleni2499]

He can do without it🤣

[@bayusabi]

maybe it's called beatbox 😊

[@karenmara]

Yup! They got Medina shaker 💪🏾

[@naegleriafowleri4427]

🎉❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🎉 Puerto Rico en la casa!

[@eggydrums]

As a Puerto Rican, I have to say this is one of the most underrated musical projects coming out of the island right now. They deserve all the recognition they can get. Un saludo y abrazo a Coco, Efraín, Janice y todo ese combo de increíbles músicos 🗣️🇵🇷

[@rubercoober]

PR's brightest and best right here!!!! Viva la bomba y que Viva Puerto Rico Libre puñetaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

[@brittgonz]

I am sooooooo proud to be PUERTO RICAN. What an honor & privilege 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷

[@bernardettelopez4169]

More than proud of this extraordinary ensemble of Puerto Ricans musicians and singers. A collective of minds and hearts in a journey thru a labyrinth of peace and feelings. Love you all! Bernardette💜🌹🎶

[@natalies9539]

This was incredible 🇵🇷

[@loganryall1356]

Amo mi cultura hispana! 🇲🇽

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

Wow. What a tour de force! The blending of the vocals, horns, percussion and strings is magical. So beautiful. And the older fella in the front keeps it 💯

[@maridixon4241]

Puerto Rico en la casa! Que viva la Bomba

[@90sArcadeKid]

El planeta necesita paz y buena música 🇻🇪 latino hasta la muerte!

[@ajordan1847]

Boost of ❤for this Friday. 🎶🎶🎶

[@XTOPHER__]

I saw them live when I studied at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico and was amazed by how they mix traditional Bomba rythms with jazz and their original techniques. Inspiring to see these maestros here! De Puerto Rico pal mundo 🇵🇷✊🏼

[@zoril.2514]

Puerto Rican art is just next level IYKYK

[@BestFitSquareChannel]

Oasis of joy, joy, joy… 🌞🫶🏼🎶🤸🏽‍♂️🙌🏽🖖🏼

[@FlavioCorrealossitios]

El señor con los sound effects 😂 genial

[@valeriaaviles8015]

Puerto Rico en la casaaaaaa que orgullo🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@elizabethmontalvo7961]

Esoooo eeeeehhh!! ESTO SI QUE ES TALENTOOOO!!! Y super orgullosa de ti mi sobrina hermosa, SOREIMIIIII!! Te amo mi amor!! Sigue adelante como siempre lo has hecho! 🎉🎉

[@nesty420]

Durísimo!!!! Sabor BORICUA!!!!🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷💪💪💪

[@amyvanilli]

👏👏👏👏👏👏 Uff!!!! So proud of this fantastic collective of individuals and talented musicians. Abrazote y admiración 🪘🎷✨🔥🧡

[@Mr1drumlover]

Que hermoso, lágrimas de alegría. ¡Gracias! ☮️🩵🎶💙🎵☮️

[@casave9682]

This just made me realize that “cultura profética” is a perfect fit for tiny desk!!!!

[@Hialeahup]

Of course, they should of been gone there already, way before Rawayana.

[@TMYPiscesSunandMoonRising5548]

Great Friday everyone, sometimes you dont know what you need or lacking in your life until you get it. This is it 💥💯💃🏾🔥. Make it a great day and weekend on purpose, everyone 🙂.

[@docjanos]

My favorite comment about anything ever.

[@antoniobronx4955]

Thank you NPR for expanding the Tiny Desk to include the rhythm and light of the Puerto Rican people. What a fantastic cross generational amalgamation of musicians!

[@bayusabi]

It's impossible watching their performance without a smile or a light dance ❤

[@adamisaac4685]

It’s gonna be a spicy day!!!

[@AA-lm9xx]

Yesssss, Gracias Tiny por llevar a los nuestros. 🇵🇷

[@ikerantoniosantin1849]

Tiny desk is the best thing that has happened to my life

[@knucklevision]

As much as I can relate, I hope you're exaggerating... just a little! 🙂

[@averybrown3369]

They sound amazing! This is my first time hearing of them; After watching their Tiny Desk, I’m officially a fan. I love the consistency they bring as a band. 🙌🏿💫🎶

[@naturalbeauty8026]

Yes, so am I, a fan that is. I will for sure be going to see them in concert, when they come to Florida. Amazing tiny desk

[@allancruz614]

Here in PR we call that "Afincao". It means they have a tight rhythm, telling a band from PR 'tan afincao is one of the best compliments you can give

[@user-wh1oz3wn2r]

brutal, mucho amor, larga vida al tinydesk¡¡¡¡

[@paulomedeiros9029]

Tiny Desk só traz FERAS em volta desta mesa! From Brasil 🇧🇷🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@KhandyCampo]

Otimo!

[@MrBlowncat]

¡Qué energía tan bonita y que presentación tan espectacular! ¡Orgulloso de ustedes! 🇵🇷 Gracias Tiny Desk.

[@JoynPain]

Although I don’t understand Spanish, I understand GOOD MUSIC & This was amazing! ❤

[@queenofweaves916]

Word! 🥰

[@kinshasav]

Look @ all the beautiful people making beautiful music 🎶

[@vattenflick]

It gives one hope.

[@LEX-zh8io]

Puerto Rico libre!

[@hailynewma9122]

I‘ll take this with me into the weekend thanks TD and band ❤

[@luketargett2233]

Wow absolutely loved this, what a set!!!

[@RouaAdam]

What an incredible performance. Such a joy to see Bomba on Tiny Desk and even greater joy to see El Laberinto del Coco here. Congratulations 😁😁

[@kaplank8992]

Soreimi, with "La bomba" the best 🎆

[@Otto2Face]

El Laberinto del Coco!! Duro! PFKNR en la casa! 🔥🔥🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@chokariz]

Que brutal!!!! Coco!!!!!!! Meteleeeee

[@eliasarroyo4929]

Esooooo. Puertorro en la casa y el gran Efra en los drums. 🔥

[@CarlosAnglada]

Las aportaciones de Efrain al vocabulario de la batería afro son trascendentales.

[@KevinMerinoCreations]

This added the espresso into my coffee this morning here in North Carolina! 👏👏👏

[@S.Shea2432]

Same. I'm in NC. too!! 💙💙

[@jessilavoy3713]

Si, Garner

[@S.Shea2432]

@@jessilavoy3713, 💙💙

[@S.Shea2432]

@@jessilavoy3713, 💙💙

[@solimarbezares8047]

Mi prima que orgullooooo🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤ 😍😍😍😍 la que canta hermoso claro que siiii!!!! (Camisa blanca) 😘

[@bobbyboricua21]

Tremendo mi gente! Orgullo total! 🇵🇷 🎶 ❤

[@suarezneful]

Sweet music for my soul! All unique and true to who they are. Love the mix of rhythms and genres . Takes me back to the Poly en My brother and his friends playing for the love and joy of music. Their impromptu concerts always brought the house down. Experimenting with everything - no limits to their expression, ingenuity, and love for the art of music! It was exactly what we saw in this video. Tiny Desk but big stars always!

[@perlanegrapepa]

De la Ostia..... que buen proyecto, que bien suenan. Ojalá algún día vengan para la Argentina. Aquí estamos con mucho baile con crédito de cuatro años festejando el campeonato mundial!!!! VENGAN para Acá!!!!!que tenemos caderas para seguirlos.... Felicitaciones!!!!

[@nicolam4513]

This is like Zimbabwean Sungura mixed with Jit, Jazz but it is very Latino. Wow. Lovely ❤

[@ricardotorres5524]

That’s the African heritage in the Caribbean!🔥

[@freddiefeliciano2632]

One blood ❤

[@kattatu]

Awesome 🎉

[@Rachel-sv9pq]

My soul needed this today. Thank you.

[@MarangelSantiago]

Simplemente espectacular!!!

[@saquita51]

¡Chévere! Un saludo desde Tokio　🎶

[@marcofilippini5429]

Fantastico !!!!!!!!!!!!Music is beautiful thing Thanks Puerto Rico !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Stephannie27]

Proud! Tremendos músicos y cantores boricuas 🫶🏻 Mucho éxito y que viva la cultura ❤

[@carloyi73]

@ellaberintodelcoco Hermano Coco, mucho éxito con tu proyecto... Cómo siempre te digo, tienes un hipódromo por banda demasiau exageraooooo. Muchas bendiciones siempre para todos!!!

[@gabrielgolds]

Viva a cultura!

[@DragoonEdwin]

Eso es puñetaaaaa❣️🇵🇷🌺🔥

[@EricaMartinezAtabei]

¡Abrazos 🇵🇷 desde Orlando, FL! Gracias a todas y todos❤

[@Gojuan06]

Beautiful performance!! Congrats Coco and everyone!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@toniz1559]

All the vibes for my weekend. This came from the heart space 💚!! Gracias y mucha gratitud, Héctor y familia y Tiny Desk!

[@safo31]

MERCI ! Une belle caresse pour les oreilles tonique et enjouée...Magnifique... Quel bonheur de vous entendre....😊

[@pakibasaplease1]

I’m from N Ireland and just loved this. Thankyou

[@kevinmoyer6224]

I bet anywhere they play would be an absolute party!

[@legit-ish4203]

And I would be dancing with them! 🎉🎉😂❤😊😊

[@RobelTropical]

Mejor banda del planeta 🇵🇷✨

[@bolinsky]

very much needed joy in a crazy world right now... this.... this helps a lot, thank you for this music !

[@queenofweaves916]

This is my first time hearing this band. I love their sound. Those drum beats take me back to my African Haitian dance class in high school. I don’t understand a word but soul and feet do because they want to move. The vocalist are all wonderful the musicanns are just as amazing. Soul music I am learning comes in all genres. There is a magic that happens when artist perform from their soul. Sis dancing towards the end was wonderful. Tiny desk thank you for giving us music that is feeding our souls from around the world. Such a blessing 🙏🏿🥰

[@jennifernilenie2855]

Orgullosa de lxs mixs! Saborrrrrr!

[@melissakingston6194]

This was great❤❤❤ Love my Afro Latin Music 🎵 Thanks Tiny- npr for this opportunity for showcasing this beautiful group👍🏾

[@cooldebt]

These guys are the 'bomba'! 😉 (and the lyrics are great!)

[@MsDJuna]

What a pleasure to hear this groove!

[@DDrums-Uroki-Po-Skype]

Как будто на солнечном пляже побывал).

[@anabellanoriega_]

HERMOSO! Saludos desde 🇦🇷❤

[@virmariesanchez-torres9140]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Te felicito Coco Barez. Buen trabajo. Cariños Panky

[@KCKing-iu4cw]

Very Nice Set! Salute! 🫡

[@KMO325]

Tiny Desk, much love for you bringing this band to us❤…. …I’ll even overlook this weird thing you guys did in the English caption at 15:46 where you translated Black people as African American people😅

[@TIYImusic]

Lemme book a flight to Puerto Rico real quick..that was fantastic!!!!

[@rudypamela]

Muero de amor de volver a verlos amigos! Gracias por la musica, muchos cariños

[@johnallen1493]

Fantastic!! Love it!! Hector and his band!! Positive energy unbelievable talent!

[@KhandyCampo]

Happy Friday for all, good music and rhythm

[@MargaritaMlada]

Спасибо огромное ❤ так приятно слушать ! МИР 🌍

[@timditse2961]

colors and tiny desk are the best thing to happen to the internet. sounds of the world

[@sallysson]

Tiny desk is preparing me for Spring........Passports for everyone!

[@eliasarroyo4929]

Puerto Rico is a US territory and you dont need passport if you're from US. Nevertheless, you can visit us anytime.

[@sallysson]

@@eliasarroyo4929 Thank you. I am aware, I'm a US citizen. I was playing on the term 'Passport bros' to signify different cultures. Thanks again, tho.

[@LilyRosa-wf9jk]

Puerto Rico is a colony. Territory is the “nice” word for it. Having said that, stay home if you’re not puertorican and instead of engaging in colonial tourism pay for a puertorican to come visit their family. They likely can’t afford to return while Americans routinely come here for “vacation”

[@LaAngie.]

@@LilyRosa-wf9jklmaoooo Girl, you lost. Go vote better for your island, telling people to not come without any idea of their intentions.

[@annacarrion]

Mazacote 🇵🇷 Emotivo ¡!!

[@beamar669]

I’m so proud of this band!!! Hopefully in a near future new acts independent puertorican artist don’t have to depend for a festival to make them notice.

❤️‍🔥👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@sharianaferrer9512]

Llevaba esperando esta presentación. Sabrosura y melaza pura, de Puerto Rico pal mundo. ¡Gracias maestro, Coco! 💜

[@jarjarbinx1986]

I just discovered this tiny desk om Sunday, and I am in awe , love, etc. Please come to atlanta.

[@soulfulgathering1887]

Bellooooooo ❤❤ mi gente bella de mi isla 🏝️….

[@eafnpr1]

¡PR tiene talento que se desborda y es un bombazo! 🧨🔥

[@LesterRey]

Hablaaaaa!!!! lesgoooo!!! Bomba con Jazz 🎷Bomba psych🎸Chicago Rican presente✊

[@adida8]

Peace! we just want peace!!!

[@LaCurvaDirecta]

Ejemplo de excelencia Boricua. 20/10!

[@NuvoleBiianche]

¡Me encantó! Me fascina encontrar música y que calidad 💯 Saludos desde Colombia 🇨🇴

[@PeterFranks7]

¡Puerto Rico en la casa!

[@rolandnietoromero9068]

Antoinette 😍

[@charlierobinson4525]

Mannn Feeling Warmth in This Cold Seattle Weather.. Voices!!! Love Them.. LoveUp

[@FrankNitty-cd4fq]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🇵🇷❤️

[@eduardomartinez1506]

El corillazo boricua! Como decía El Gran Combo: “ No hay cama pa’ tanta gente”. Como quiera se acomodaron y en buen slang boricua, “metieron la yuca”.

[@GanyaRambo]

Masacote 🔥🇵🇷