Edwin Colon Zayas Receives Cubadisco Special Prize

HAVANA, Cuba. Puerto Rican musician Edwin Colon Zayas said the greatest recognition of his career has been the Cubadisco Special Prize for his album Reafirmación presented on Saturday at the Cuban recording industry's annual awards ceremony in Havana.

Edwin Colon Zayas, accompanied by the Cuban National Symphonic Orchestra, performed a special concert of Concierto Criollo composed by Puerto Rican Ernesto Cordero.

"I always feel very good in Cuba where I can share with friends and musicians who feel the musical roots of our people in the same way I do," Edwin Colon Zayas told the press.

Edwin Colon Zayas has recorded several albums and is considered one of the greatest purveyor's of Puerto Rico's national instrument, the cuatro , which owes its name to the four-string original version of the guitar-like instrument.

Reafirmación, on the Colon Zayas label, is a good example of traditional Puerto Rican music with genres that run from the mazurka and pasillo to the guaracha jibara.

During his stay in Havana, Edwin Colon Zayas will share the stage with Cuban tres player Pancho Amat and his Cabildo del Son band. He will also take part in a workshop on Monday with Cuban children's theater company La Colmentia and traditional Cuban singer Alexis Díaz Pimient.

(Intérprete puertorriqueño elogia valores del folclor de Cuba)