Bachata is genuinely a music of the people. Recalling the American blues, bachata was infamous as the anthem of the hard-drinking, womanizing, down-on-his-luck man, vilified as the entertainment of the brothels and the cabarets, and worshipped by the downtrodden poor as the deepest expression of their feelings. Dominican immigration to the U.S. has had a profound impact on bachata. Now bachateros come to play in New York and write songs with an urban edge that reflect the experience of the Dominican diaspora. We visit with Alex Wolfe, director/producer of the forthcoming film Santo Domingo Blues: The Story of Bachata, who brings us live ambience and stories of bachata stars Luis Vargas, Antony Santos, Luis Segura and Adridia Ventura.
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