The Cuban jazz band Tiempo Libre performed a surprise concert for workers at the racetrack Thursday afternoon.

The seven member band is in town for an evening performance at Skidmore’s Zankel Music Center as part of the SaratogaArtsFest. They are known, among other things, for popularizing Timba music in America. “Basically it’s a mix between Cuban music and jazz,” says musical director Jorge Gomez, trying to describe a musical style that also includes elements of disco and hip-hop. “The brass section is more difficult; we have a lot of solos; and the instrumentation is so different. We play with electric keyboard, electric bass, drums. The salsa for example they play with the acoustic bass, timbales, acoustic piano…and they play more melody, more romantic. We play more aggressive.”