From NPR Music, this is Alt Latino. I'm Felix Contreras. This is turning out to be a good year for books about Latin music.

Last month, we featured books by Leila Kobo and Beto Arcos about two very distinct areas of Latin music.

And this week, we talked to Ben Lapidus about his book, New York and the International Sound of Latin

music from 1940 to 1990. It's a deeply researched and resourced Paige Turner, lots of great

history and stories that put the music we hear today into historical and cultural context.

Ben Lapidus is a Grammy-nominated musician,

as well as a professor in the Department of Art and Music

at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY

and is also on the doctoral faculty

for the music program for the CUNY Graduate Center in New York.

And we spoke over Zoom recently about Ben's very interesting proposition that New York

City and his musicians have actually influenced Latin music in other countries.

I'll let him explain that, but before he does, be advised that this week's show is heavy

on conversation, and there will be a quiz at the end.

Ben Lapidus, welcome to Alt-Latino. It's really a thrill and an honor to have you here.

Man, it is so great to be here.

It's an honor for me, and it's a real pleasure to be speaking with you,

especially having known you for so long.

Yeah, man, we go back away, and one of the things I've always admired about your dedication to music,

particularly your dedication to the source, the roots, the history, what makes it the music that it is today.

And your book is a huge step forward and getting closer to that source.

Let's talk first a little bit about the overall premise of the book, which is New York City

...