Book review: Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá

"Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá: Cuba, Diaspora, and the Drum covers incredible history and tradition in its slender 150 pages. Vaughan captures everything the subtitle proclaims, but the heart comes directly from Aldama's own still-feisty voice, whether he's detailing the traditional toques—ritual-musical gatherings at which batá drumming takes place to call down the oricha (deities), to ask the santos (saints) for help, and to confirm new initiates into the community—or telling tales about Havana/Matanzas rivals showing off their skills." —East Bay Express