Cuban music | World Music Central

Album reviews

Pianist Harold López-Nussa Dazzles with ‘New Timba’

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?”…

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

World Music Central News Room February 25, 2025 No Comments Alexander Abreu Cuban music Havana D’Primera salsa timba world music

(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…