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Alexander Abreu – photo by Nathadread Pictures - Nathanael Mergui. Abreu wearing sunglasses looking at the camera.

Music videos

Cuban Heatwave: Alexander Abreu’s “Me Dicen Cuba” Music Video

(headline image: Alexander Abreu – photo by Nathadread Pictures – Nathanael Mergui) “Me Dicen Cuba” (they tell me Cuba) is an irresistible video by Cuban…

Alexander Abreu – photo by Nathadread Pictures - Nathanael Mergui. Abreu playing trumpet.

Music videos

Cuban Salsa Fire: Alexander Abreu’s “Pasaporte” Music Video

World Music Central News Room February 20, 2025 No Comments Alexander Abreu Cuban music Havana D’Primera salsa timba world music

(headline image: Alexander Abreu – photo by Nathadread Pictures – Nathanael Mergui) “Pasaporte” is a music video by Cuban salsa giants Alexander Abreu and Havana…

The single cover for Zunzun Baba by Rita Donte features a street scene in Havana, Cuba. A performer on stilts is dressed in a colorful costume resembling a hummingbird, with iridescent wings spread wide, a green-scaled bodysuit, and a feathered mask. Below, a woman in a flowing red dress and bold yellow accessories leans against the wall. The textured, weathered buildings and the "Habana" street sign anchor the image in a rich, cultural setting. The typography is minimal.

Music videos

Humming Into the Spotlight: Rita Donte Debuts with ‘Zunzun Baba’

World Music Central News Room February 10, 2025 No Comments Cuban music Mexican music Rita Donte son jarocho world music

Cuban singer-songwriter Rita Donte has announced her debut album, Ritual, set for release on March 28 via Ansonia Records. Leading the album’s rollout is the…

The album cover for "Tenderete en el Azul" presents a collage-like aesthetic that blends rustic charm with surreal undertones. Dominating the center of the design is the title text, rendered in bold, layered fonts with the phrase "En el Azul" prominently displayed in large, textured letters. The words have a faded, hand-painted quality, giving them a vintage feel. In the background, the artwork features a patchwork of images arranged in a grid-like pattern. These images depict a variety of scenes and elements: portraits of individuals, natural textures, architectural fragments, and symbolic illustrations like a crescent moon and a wine glass.

Album reviews

Tenderete: A Decade-Long Reunion Blossoms Into “En El Azul”

Iliana Cabrera January 30, 2025 No Comments Alba Bioque Cuban music Flamenco Plácido Muñoz Tenderete world fusion world music

Tenderete – En el Azul (Bio Sound studio, 2024) Tenderete, the multidisciplinary project led by singer Alba Bioque and percussionist Plácido Muñoz, returns after a…

Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo - Photo by Gianluca Tramontana

Articles

Changüí – A Foundational Genre in Traditional Cuban Music

Angel Romero January 26, 2025 No Comments Celso Fernández Roja changüí Changüí de Guantánamo Changüí Santiago Cuban music El Guajiro y su Changüí Elio Revé Grupo Estrellas Campesinas Grupo Familia Vera Guantánamo Las Flores del Changüí Melquíades y su Changüí Mikikí Pedro Vera Popó y su Changüí world music

(headline image: Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo – Photo by Gianluca Tramontana) Changüí is an early form of traditional Cuban music from the sugar cane lands,…

Cover of Gerry Lopez's No Way Back album. Shows the artist wearing sunglasses holding a saxophone.

Music videos Single reviews

Stepping Forward

Tom Orr January 23, 2025 No Comments Afro-Cuban jazz Cuban music Gerry Lopez Giant Steps John Coltrane world fusion world jazz

Mexican saxophonist Gerry López gives an Afro-Cuban jazz twist to John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps,” taking a classic to new heights by keeping the melodic essence…

The album cover features an abstract, flowing design resembling intertwined organic or aquatic forms, drawn with intricate, thin lines in a monochromatic style. The composition has a minimalist aesthetic with a subdued, muted background. The text "Yiorgos Bereris | Lucas Zegrí" is placed at the top, while the album title "Sigá y Silente" is at the bottom, both in simple, clean typography.

Music videos Single reviews

88 Keys Plus Natural Beats

Tom Orr January 19, 2025 No Comments Cuban music Flamenco world fusion world music Yiorgos Bereris

Greece’s Yiorgos Bereris seasons his own expert touch on the piano with jazz drumming, Cuban and Brazilian-inspired percussion and melodic interplay to spare on “Cruza,”…

This album cover features an abstract design dominated by vertical streaks of blue, orange, and yellow hues. The album title, "Rumbalike," and the artist name, "Jstop Latin Soul Featuring Ken Hitchcock," are prominently displayed in bold, layered text.

Music videos Single reviews

Can’t Stop This

Tom Orr January 12, 2025 No Comments Afro-Cuban music Cuban music Jstop Latin Soul Latin American music world music

Jstop Latin Soul is a Virginia-based band that delivers on their name with a just the right amount of sizzling Afro-Cuban rhythms, full-blooded solos, layered…

Sambroso Sambroso, a photo with many people gathered in front of the camera inside a club.

Events

Cuban Sundays: A New Era of Live Cuban Music in London

World Music Central News Room December 18, 2024 No Comments Cuban music salsa Sambroso Sambroso timba world music

Juju’s Bar & Stage in East London has teamed up with Sambroso Sambroso to launch the Cuban Sundays Live Music Series, a seven-month celebration of…