From Fania to Buchla: East Coast vs. West Coast Synthesis in Latin Music

Discover how electronic voltage and Afro-Caribbean rhythm collide. This 90-minute hands-on workshop breaks down the practical dividing lines between East Coast and West Coast synthesis philosophies, framed through the lens of Latin music history.

Returning to AMLA, a community that helped shape her own musical journey, Sandra will demystify these electronic architectures with live demonstrations using physical patch sheets and the studio’s synthesizer inventory:

• The East Coast Brass Sweep: Recreating the iconic filter sweep from Willie Colón and Rubén Blades’ masterpiece “Plástico” (1978).
• The Synthesized Cuatro: Mapping the electronic-acoustic string dialogue behind “Según el Color” (1977).
• The Buchla Bongo: “Pinging” West Coast low-pass gates to replicate the organic decay of traditional hand drums.
• The Electronic Clave: Using wavefolders to sculpt raw voltage into sharp, acoustic-mimicking percussive strikes.

Participants will use custom patch sheets to physically trace signals, turn dials, and build these classic electronic recipes themselves.

CLASS DETAILS

The class meets Thursday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the Community Synth Studio at AMLA/Esperanza.

This class is 18+. Class size is limited to 10. No previous experience in music or synthesizers is required.

Advance ticket reservation is required to attend.

QUESTIONS

Questions? Email SoundLab@bowerbird.org.

LISTEN

Willie Colón and Rubén Blades, “Plástico” (1978)

Willie Colón and Rubén Blades, “Según el Color” (1977)

ABOUT THE TEACHER

Sandra James is a multi-disciplinary performer, technologist, and educator who maintains a steady, reflective practice across both electronic and Latin music. Her electronic practice balances a history of deliberate multimedia projects using software like Csound, Max/MSP, and Pd with a current, ten-year focus on live Eurorack hardware performance, quadraphonic spatialization, and custom video art. As a Latin percussionist, her range spans from percussion-only ensembles to guitar and percussion-based combos. She draws from foundational musical training at Artistas y Músicos Latinoamericanos (AMLA) alongside studies in Cuba, Panama, and the University of Rome, as well as academic work, research, and exhibitions at Temple University, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and IRCAM. This dedication to physical instrumentation and experimentation anchors her career at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music, where she serves as the IT Director for music technology and as an Adjunct Instructor of Analog and Modular Sound Synthesis. Through her practice of hand-building hardware and performing at Modular on the Spot, Philadelphia’s free outdoor modular synthesis picnic, Sandra actively encourages hands-on, community-driven experimentation.

ADDITIONAL LOCATION INFO

From October through December 2026, our Neighborhood Sound Lab will be located in AMLA Studios on the first floor (lower level) of Esperanza Arts Center, in the Hunting Park neighborhood of North Philadelphia. The street address is 4261 N. 5th Street, but the entrance is on Bristol Street, near the corner of 5th and Bristol. Enter through Esperanza’s main doors.

Parking. Free parking is available on the Esperanza campus. The lot is on Bristol Street between North 3rd and North 5th Streets, at 4th and Bristol.

Public transit. Esperanza is on SEPTA bus routes 47, 53, and 4. For the 53, get off at 5th and Hunting Park. For the 47, get off at 5th and Bristol. For the 4, get off at 9th and Hunting Park.

ABOUT AMLA

Artístas y Músicos Latinoamericanos (AMLA) seeks to promote the development, dissemination, and understanding of Latin music and culture throughout Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. AMLA is based at Esperanza Arts Center in Hunting Park, North Philadelphia. For more info, visit amla.org.

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Major support for NEIGHBORHOOD SOUND LAB has been provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional support from The Presser Foundation.