In an attempt to expand artistic freedoms in Cuba, event organizers Alan Roy Scott and Bill Martinez plan the groundbreaking Music Bridges festival for one week later this month. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the week long event will allow over forty musicians to visit and collaborate with the island's top native musicians. The finale of the event will be a concert showcasing the newly written material, possibly to be broadcast by loudspeaker to Cuban residents.

As the political taboo of visiting Cuba seems to be relaxing, interest in Cuban music is hitting an all time high. The Music Bridges festival plans to create new works of music, thus circumventing the current Cuban embargo allowing only the import or export of ''pre-existing informational materials.'' Artists as diverse as Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Kris Kristofferson, Mick Fleetwood, Montell Jordan, The Indigo Girls and Michael Franti of Spearhead have agreed to make the trek.

The Music Bridges effort may just be one of many American influences soon to hit the island. The Broadway show Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk is looking into possibilities of setting up shop in Cuba for a September run. In addition, the Baltimore Orioles will play an exhibition game in Cuba later this month.