The brainchild of acclaimed producer Andres Levin, New York’s Latin-funk collective Yerba Buena came together as an outgrowth of Levin’s extensive discography, including work as principal producer of the Red Hot Organization’s applauded Red Hot + Riot album (year-end TOP-10 in Rolling Stone, TIME & The New York Times). That intense critical praise was just as instant and far-reaching with Yerba Buena’s 2003 Grammy nominated debut album President Alien. The group’s super-infectious live-band party feel totally changed everyone’s idea of new Latin groove with a mind-bendingly original, Afro-Cuban/Afrobeat/hiphop attack.

Even with all the high praise for the first album’s innovative sound, Levin and group cofounder Ilena Padron (aka CuCu Diamnates) were not satisfied with playing it safe and serving up more of the same. With its 13 contagious new tracks, Yerba Buena’s new concept album Island Life is an ambitious urban-tropical synthesis that won’t let you stop dancing. “I always want the Yerba Buena sound to be evolving,” said Levin, a/k/a Dre taking a break from the mixing board at his “Fun Machine” studio. “Yerba Buena will always be about Afro-Cuban roots, but this record has more gypsy and cumbia influences – sounds I’ve heard around the world and that I’m now hearing across New York as well. I think the confluence of different immigrant music in New York is a great avenue for pop culture to explore.