Cooley taking a break from a Bata lesson with Alejandro Guerra. 

Alejandro playing Iya and showing us us white boys how to play Bata. He truly is amazing. Such a wealth of knowledge.

Don Skoog transcribing all of the Bata lessons.

The National School of the Arts used to be a golf resort until Castro took it over and made it the premier school music, dance and arts for high school and below.

The dorms at the National School of Music in Playa.

This is the plastics section of the school where they learn painting and sculpting arts.

Alejandro and others playing Rumba.

Alejandro on the right with other great Bata players.

With Don Skoog, Chester Cooley and two amazing conga players from the school. The one on the right sounds like Giovanni, not kidding!

With Jose Eladio Amat and Cooley. He is an amazing teacher and great man.

Jose Eladio burning on the drums during a lesson.

Cooley learning some new timba rhythms on Timbales.

With Jose, Changuito and Alejandro. It doesn't get much better than these guys.

The Three Musketeers and notice the Havana Club rum, mmmmmmm!

With Cooley and a dear friend Pichi and his wife.

A building with Che.

The dense foliage is amazing in Cuba.

Downtown Havana.

All of the people who attended and staff members from plazacuba.com. This was how Cooley and I got to Cuba to study.

Living conditions are hard in Cuba but everyone makes due with what they have.

Another example of Cuban living.

I took this shot of this man who was just hanging out.

Cuban ladies hanging out.

A Cuban feast! Cooley and I stayed at Alejandro's the last night in Cuba and his wife made this incredible meal.

Alejandro kissing his wife. I love this shot. He was one of the most caring, kind people I have ever met.