In fact, a recent visit to Havana served as inspiration for a brand new segment of the show Benise is bringing to Lincoln Theater this weekend. Although he plays to enthusiastic crowds today, Benise’s cathartic exploration of Latin music didn’t endear him to booking agents and club owners at first. He took his music literally to the streets, playing everything from neighborhood theaters to flea markets where he quickly established a following.

His initial efforts at producing an evening of Latin entertainment proved successful, leading to his popular “Nights of Fire!” spectacle, which was videotaped and broadcast on PBS nationwide. It is still being broadcast today. The mixture of material in “Nights of Fire!” includes Brazilian samba, Cuban salsa, Spanish flamenco, Argentine tango, even African tribal chants and drums. The production’s incredible costumes were acknowledged with an Emmy Award.

Benise says he’s most comfortable when presenting “a fusion of all styles. I appreciate music from all over the world and I believe that feeling has allowed me to embrace them all, to incorporate them into the songs that I write, the music we sing, the shows we perform.

When people ask what it is, I tell them it’s a combination of blues, jazz, salsa, rock and more, but in a hipper style.” The show that he’s bringing to Napa Valley on Sunday will feature, for its first segment, “old Havana,” Benise pointed out during a phone conversation last weekend. “I spent two weeks in Havana — I got permission to travel there to study Cuban music. I flew directly from LAX to Havana.