is much more than a gifted piano accompanist. She is a testament to the power of music, the kind of passion that has driven her to overcome many obstacles in order to achieve her dream of making music that lifts the spirit, particularly that of dancers. Her musicality is deeply rooted in her traditional Cuban music, music that is known for being not only rhythmically intricate but also melodically contagious. And this can be heard and felt in Aly’s playing.