Listeners of Reclaimed Soul on WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo know this about host Ayana Contreras: When she goes searching for music, she’s also searching for the culture behind the music. So when Contreras got the chance to tour eastern Cuba with three Chicago-based musicians, she jumped at the opportunity. She returned with a deeper knowledge of Cuban musical traditions and a fresh understanding of both the links between the music of the island and the music of Chicago and the connections between black people across the Americas.

Morning Shift talks with Ayana Contreras about the one-hour documentary special she’s put together for Reclaimed Soul.