Cuban music | World Music Central

Eljuri - Así es el Mundo cover artwork. A photo of eljuri playing guitar.

Album reviews

Guitar Riffs And Rights: Artivist Eljuri Presents “Así Es El Mundo”

Eljuri – Así es el Mundo (Manovill Records, 2025) New York-based Hispanic singer, guitarist, and activist Cecilia Villar Eljuri has recently released Así Es El…

The album cover for "Prado… Vive!" by Raúl Gutiérrez and His Cuban Big Band features a dancer in red and orange on the right side, arms raised. On the left, fragmented cutouts reveal the smiling face and suit of a man. The background carries swirling lines in green and beige. The title "Prado… Vive!" appears in large red and brown lettering, while the artist’s name sits at the top in red and black text.

Album reviews

Mambo Royalty, Reloaded

Iliana Cabrera September 28, 2025 No Comments Cuban music Raúl Gutiérrez Raúl Gutiérrez and his Cuban Big Band world music

Raúl Gutiérrez and His Cuban Band – Prado… Vive! (Cugate Clásicos Latinos, 2021) Raúl Gutiérrez and His Cuban Band celebrate Pérez Prado’s legacy on Prado……

Yilian Cañizares - Photo by Franck Socha. Yilian holding her fiddle.

Music videos

Yilian Cañizares Releases Blooming Single “Vamos A Florecer” With Momi Maiga

World Music Central News Room September 26, 2025 No Comments Cuban music world music Yilian Cañizares

(headline image: Yilian Cañizares – Photo by Franck Socha) Cuban-Swiss violinist, singer, and composer Yilian Cañizares has released a new single, “Vamos A Florecer” (we…

Aymée Nuviola feat. Kemuel Roig Havana Nocturn cover artwork. A photo of Aymée Nuviola with a large white flower on her hair.

Album reviews

Midnight In Havana: Aymée Nuviola And Kemuel Roig Recast Filin On “Havana Nocturne”

Iliana Cabrera September 26, 2025 No Comments Aymée Nuviola Cuban music world music

Aymée Nuviola feat. Kemuel Roig – Havana Nocturne (Worldwide Entertainment & Productions, 2023) Aymée Nuviola’s moving Havana Nocturne revisits Havana’s thriving nightlife from the 1940s–60s,…

Album reviews

Pianist Harold López-Nussa Dazzles with ‘New Timba’

Angel Romero August 24, 2025 1 Comment Cuban music Harold López-Nussa world music

Harold López-Nussa – Nueva Timba (Blue Note, 2025) Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa returns with Nueva Timba, a fantastic album that combines jazz innovation with Cuban…

Music videos

Cuba’s Harold López-Nussa Recasts “Gitanerías”

World Music Central News Room August 17, 2025 No Comments Cuban music Harold Lopez-Nussa world music

Cuban pianist Harold López-Nussa has released “Gitanerías,” his interpretation of Ernesto Lecuona’s piece and the latest single from his Blue Note Records album Nueva Timba,…

The cover of The Crossing by Kevin Ricard features a group of people walking, with only their legs and feet visible. Their clothing is colorful, and they carry various items like bags and baskets. The title appears in bold, distressed lettering at the top, partially obscuring the figures, while the artist's name is in a simple, spaced-out font at the bottom. The muted olive-green background contrasts with the movement of the subjects.

Album reviews

Kevin Ricard Takes the Lead on The Crossing

Angel Romero August 11, 2025 No Comments Brazilian music Cuban music Kevin Ricard Malian music Moroccan music percussion world fusion world music

Kevin Ricard – The Crossing (Roots of Rhythm Recordings, 2025) Veteran percussionist Kevin Ricard steps into the spotlight and directs the traffic of rhythm with…

The single cover for Mil Años by Diana Jiménez features a close-up of a woman's face split vertically into dark and light halves. The title Mil Años appears in white text at the bottom, with the artist credit "Music 4 Diana" in smaller type.

Music videos Single reviews

A Daughter’s Heartfelt Tribute

Tom Orr July 31, 2025 No Comments Afro-Cuban music Cuban music Diana Jimenez world music

American artist Diana Jimenez wrote “Mil Años” as a tribute to her dad, and the Afro-Cuban style of the piece is filled with emotional nuance…

The single cover for Las Panteras – La Vendedora features a green backdrop with graffiti-style accents, two women adorned with flowers and colorful braids. One holds a bouquet and wears oversized sunglasses, while the other beams upward, wrapped in a scarf. The title and artist name appear in white script and bold caps.

Music videos Single reviews

Buy What They’re Selling

Tom Orr July 25, 2025 1 Comment Afro-Cuban music Cuban music Las Panteras world music

“La Vendedora” (the seller) by Cuban/French duo Las Panteras (Eliene Castillo and Martha Galarraga) is a sassy bit of scritchy-scratchy Latin rhythm, jaunty piano, call-and-response…

The single cover for Inmigrante Y Qué? by Yeisy Rojas features a young woman gazing pensively through a chain-link fence at night. Dramatic lighting casts the fence’s shadow across her face.

Music videos Single reviews

It Begs the Question

Tom Orr June 21, 2025 No Comments Cuban music world music Yeisy Rojas

With immigration being the hot button issue it is nowadays, Cuba’s Yeisy Rojas brings her own take on it into focus via “Inmigrante y qué?”…