Mar Picao, an Afro-Cuban jazz quintet led by San Diego-based Panamanian composer Julio Valdes, performs a free lunchtime concert at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Monday, Sept. 14.

The noon show is part of the Athenaeum's Monday Mini-Concert series, the longest-running music series at the La Jolla library. Glenna Hazleton founded the program in 1970, and it has brought live performances to the Athenaeum every Monday at noon since. The series features local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty and chamber ensembles, with repertoire spanning classical, jazz, folk and world music.

Mar Picao blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz and rock influences. A Times of San Diego music writer noted the group's energy would have audiences dancing in a non-library setting, praising the band's extended solos.

The band's website describes its music as rooted in Afro-Cuban folklore, driven by atmospheric rock elements and the conversational spirit of jazz. The quintet's name draws inspiration from the ocean's power.

Valdes, a keyboardist and composer, formed the band in 2015. Mar Picao released its debut album, "Cinema," in 2017. On that record, Valdes opted for Fender Rhodes over acoustic piano. The group's second album, "Antecedente," came out in 2026.

No tickets or reservations are required. Doors open at 11:40 a.m., and last entry is at 12:10 p.m. or once capacity is reached. Seating is first-come, first-served, and concerts last about an hour. The Athenaeum welcomes donations. The library is at 1008 Wall St. in La Jolla. For more information, call (858) 454-5872.

The next scheduled Mini-Concert is the LJ Jazz Collective quintet, led by Isaac Satzman, on Monday, Oct. 19 at noon. That show is also free.