▼ Music Lady in White La Dame Blanche blends her classical training with myriad genres. BY ERNEST BARTELDES C uban-raised, Paris-based Yaite Rodriguez, who goes by the stage name La Dame Blanche, cannot be pinned down to a sin- gle genre. Although rooted in the traditional Cuban music she was raised with, the classically trained flautist is pretty much all over the place, dabbling into genres like hip-hop, reggae, cumbia, and urbano. The genre-hopping had a lot to do with her move to the French capital and involvement in its local music scene. Music has been of Rodriguez’s life from an early age. Her father, Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos, is the artistic director of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club. “I was born in Cuba and left when I was 24,” Rodriguez tells New Times. “I was raised in a musical family. I was the only one in my family who actually left Cuba, and when I got to Paris, I fell in love with this place. I come from traditional Cuban music, and that is where I come from. I am a classical flautist, but once I got here, I got to know so many other genres, such are reggae, cumbia, [and] a lot of cultures — there is so much culture here. I had to learn and collaborate with many musicians, and that is what turned me into what I have become now. I’ve had such a great experience here.” Watch her recent performance for Seat- tle’s KEXP, and one can hear strains of the dramatic flamenco of Concha Buika and more subtle elements of French chanson. “Many people say that I sound a bit gitano, but I have never worked with anyone in that genre,” Rodriguez explains. “But the emo- tions are similar. It’s not the first time that I went in that direction.” Santería, the religion practiced by many people in the Caribbean and parts of South America, is also a big part of her life. This ex- plains her stage name: “the White Lady” in French. “La Dame Blanche is a representation of a “IT IS AN HOMAGE TO MY MOTHER, BUT IT REALLY IS ABOUT ALL WOMEN.” spiritual thing,” she says. “I am Black. It’s a mysterious thing that I like a lot. I like this reference.” For her South Florida debut at the Miami Beach Bandshell, Ro- driguez plans to showcase a lot of ma- terial from the 2020 album Ella, a living tribute to her mother. “A lot of the songs come from Ella,” she says of her setlist. “The album came out just around the time of the lockdowns, so I could not really promote it. So I am doing a lot of songs from it, a lot of songs from my first record. It all depends on how much time we have for our concert.” Still, Rodriguez clarifies that Ella is not only about her mother. “It is an homage to my mother, but it really is about all women. All the warriors out there,” Rodriguez notes. “If I am the woman I am today, I owe it to her, so my mother is a big part of it.” La Dame Blanche.8 p.m. Thursday, Septem- ber 29, at Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-453-2897; northbeach- bandshell.com. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com. [email protected] La Dame Blanche makes her South Florida debut at the Miami Beach Bandshell. Taste Test from p16 NW Miami Ct., Miami; arlohotels.com. Open- ing for lunch and dinner in early November. LAINE DOSS ▼ COCONUT GROVE DISCOVER MORE THAN 100 SPIRITS AT CRAFT: SPIRITS ‘N COCKTAILS FESTIVAL Once again, it’s time for a nice sip of everything buzzworthy happening in the spirits realm. Craft: Spirits ’n Cocktails, billed as the largest exhibition of spirits and cocktails in Miami, is back for a ninth year. The cocktail- centric, multifaceted tasting experience fea- turing more than 100 brands takes place on Friday, October 7, at the Cruz Building in Co- conut Grove. By all indications, 2022 is the year of one particular ingredient which, among a wide variety of new and reimagined booze, will be on full display at the expo. “Right now, we are living through the boom of agave spirits,” says Frank Moreno, founder of the event. “We’re definitely see- ing a lot more agave brands, whether they come in the form of tequila or mezcal. We’re also seeing unique liquors from all over the world, whether it’s a rosé gin from South Af- rica or a cristalino or barrel-aged mezcal. There are a number of things everyone should be excited to taste.” Once known as “Craft Spirits Fest,” the event’s first iteration happened in 2013. Had COVID not reared its ugly head and forced a 2020 cancellation, this would have been the event’s tenth anniversary. As it has grown, the expo has kept an intimate vibe, capping attendance at 500. “If you miss out, you miss out,” says “WE ARE LIVING THROUGH THE BOOM OF AGAVE SPIRITS.” Moreno. “We’ve always wanted the experi- ence to be a great one and at that number, we’re per- fect. We’ve never had an interest in packing the house beyond what is comfortable.” Spirits are the main at- traction, but happy imbib- ers will also find hors d’oeuvres, live jazz music, and the undeni- able kitschiness of the Cruz Building space, complete with three levels of New Orleans- esque flair, two 40-foot sculpted bars, and a 20-foot mezzanine bar. Brands like 6 O’Clock gin, 400 Conejos mezcal, Brugal rum, Mitcher’s whiskey, Una vodka, and Woodford Reserve bourbon will be scattered throughout the space offering straight-up and infused cocktail concoctions. According to Moreno, the vibe “puts you in the mood to discover the things you haven’t discovered just yet.” And, as for the method he recommends for strategically navigating this utopia of booze? “I would start on the third floor. I’m a to- tal contrarian of sociology,” he says with a laugh. “It’s a little quieter up there and you can work your way down. And remember, you don’t have to drink everything that gets handed to you or drink it right away. Stop, let someone educate you about what you’re drinking, and really take it in.” Craft: Spirits ’n Cocktails. 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 7, at the Cruz Building, 3157 Commo- dore Plz., Coconut Grove; craftspiritsfest.com. Tickets cost $65 to $100 via eventbrite.com. JESSE SCOTT 17 17 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | miaminewtimes.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | MIAMI NEW TIMES NEW TIMES SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 5, 2022 MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 Photo by Jonathan Mora
