While long revered in Latin America and Europe as a founding member of Cuba’s great son revival band Sierra Maestra, tres master Juan de Marcos first gained notice in the U.S. through the Buena Vista Social Club. It was de Marcos who assembled Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, Ruben Gonzalez and the rest of the crew for Ry Cooder when he came to Havana looking for illustrious old timers. That group would become a global music phenomenon, with its eponymous album and documentary directed by Wim Wenders earning huge critical acclaim.

But de Marcos is just as interested in promoting Cuba’s brilliant young musicians as in highlighting Cuba's senior talent. After gaining international fame for his instrumental role in reviving the classic sound of Cuban son, de Marcos turned the Afro-Cuban All Stars into a sensational showcase for Cuba's most prodigious young musicians. The Afro-Cuban All Stars not only features a multi-generational cast, the group draws on both classic Cuban styles like son and danzón and contemporary dance rhythms like timba. De Marcos and company hold forth at the SFJAZZ Center's Miner Auditorium this weekend for a run of four sold-out performances.

Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars
Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 21-24, 7:30 p.m. $25-$65 (sold out)
SFJAZZ Center's Miner Auditorium