Cuban music | World Music Central

Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo - Photo by Gianluca Tramontana

Articles

Changüí – A Foundational Genre in Traditional Cuban 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.

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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…

Diego Amador & José María Bandera - Paqueando cover artwork. A photo of the two artists playing live.

General News

World Music Central Announces the Best World Music Albums of 2024

World Music Central News Room December 4, 2024 No Comments Afro Celt Sound System Ali Doğan Gönültaş Altan Aziza Brahim Bab L’ Bluz Celtic music Cuban music Didon Diego Amador Flamenco global music Heisk Ibrahim Maalouf Indian classical music Jose Maria Bandera Jyotsna Srikanth Keyeyî Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano La Cumbia Une a Latinoamérica Los Cumbia Stars Lunasa Mawja Moira Smiley Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Paqueando Rusan Filiztek Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 Spanish Harlem Orchestra The Rhizome Project The Zawose Queens Trumpets Of Michel-Ange Vari Varijashree Venugopal world fusion world music

World Music Central proudly unveils its curated selection of the top world music albums for 2024. This year’s list includes splendid original works, masterful contemporary…

Rumbadub by Los Hermanos del Alma. Cover of the Oya album. a blurry landscape photo of a sandy beach.

Music videos Single reviews

Los Hermanos del Alma, an Afro-Roots Cuban/Swiss Collaboration

Tom Orr November 26, 2024 No Comments Cuban music Los Hermanos del Alma Reggae world fusion world music

Deep roots Afro-Cuban drumming, reggae-tested effects, West African mallet percussion and chanted intonations combine to make ”Rumbadub” by Los Hermanos del Alma (a Cuban/Swiss collaboration)…

Daymé Arocena and iLe singing in the studio.

Music videos

Daymé Arocena and iLe Release Stripped-Down “Por Ti” Collaboration

World Music Central News Room November 13, 2024 No Comments Cuban music Daymé Arocena iLe world music

Afro-Cuban soul sensation Daymé Arocena has teamed up with Puerto Rican star iLe to release a raw, intimate version of Arocena’s track, “Por Ti.” The…

Jay Danley - Digno, Sofisticado y Elegante cover artwork. a black and white illustration of musicians playing Cuban music.

Album reviews

Jay Danley’s Subtle and Refined Cuban Dance Music

Iliana Cabrera October 5, 2024 No Comments Cuban music Jay Danley son cubano tres cubano tres guitar world music

Jay Danley – Digno, Sofisticado y Elegante (2024) Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer Jay Danley has dropped his latest project, Digno, Sofisticado y Elegante, a…