Bachata music originated in the poor countryside of the Dominican Republic. A Dominican friend once told us, “it’s is like your folk music,” referring to American Folk. And Joan Soriano, El Duque de la Bachata, is one of its rising stars. “Soriano’s brand of bachata is a bit rootsier than what you might hear in a New York bodega,” WNYC wrote, “perhaps because he has played with many godfathers of the genre.” His debut album, El Duque De La Bachata, made a number of “Best of” lists last year and NPR said Soriano is so charismatic, he “threatened to upstage the stars he accompanied.”
Soriano is also the subject of Adam Taub’s documentary, El Duque. One of 15 children, Soriano left school and the farming life behind to pursue his passion, playing Bachata. The documentary highlights his dramatic rise to fame. On Thursday February 17, 92YTribeca will screen this extraordinary film, followed by a concert with Soriano and his exceptional band.
Below, watch video of Soriano performing acoustically at home.
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