MUSICAL STYLES
1.Son
Son became popular in the second half of the 19th century in the eastern province of Oriente. Its popularity peaked in the 1950s and was revived decades later by the Buena Vista Social Club movie and album.
A group of Cuban musicians play son in a shaded plaza
2.Classical
Cuba boasts a National Symphony Orchestra and many smaller accomplished ensembles sponsored by the government. A unique style has evolved, known as Afrocubanismo, which incorporates African-derived instruments and rhythms into classical themes.
Brass section of a classical orchestra
3.Jazz
A musical form that has made a resounding comeback in Cuba in recent years, jazz was suppressed following the Revolution (for further details see 1959: Revolution Triumphs). A fast-paced Afro-Cuban style has emerged, propelling Cuban musicians to the fore of the world jazz scene, and the Havana International Jazz Festival is a major event in the musical calendar.
Cuban jazz performer
4.Danzón
Originating in France via Haiti in the 18th century, danzón is the root source of most Cuban music, and gained popularity within slave culture and with Creole peasants. Played by orquestras típicas, danzón has a repetitive jaunty tempo, and is the Cuban national dance.
5.Changüí
A rougher variant of son, changüí has minimal instrumentation with the tres (similar to a guitar) and bongos dominating. It is played mainly in the eastern provinces, notably by groups such as the Estrellas Campesinas and Grupo Changüí.
6.Guaguancó
Born in the slave barracoons of 18th-century sugar estates, this folkloric Afro-Cuban dance is highly flirtatious. Accompanied by complex bongo rhythms, the male dancer circles his female partner, who dances in a provocative yet defensive manner in front of him.
7.Timba
A derivative of salsa, the highly aggressive and innovative timba is an eclectic and evolving musical form that incorporates various genres, including classical, disco, and even hip hop. Improvisation is key to this flexible form.
8.Rumba
Social gatherings in Cuba often evolve into informal rumbas, a generic term which covers a variety of African-derived rhythms and dances involving sensuous flicks of the hips. Many rumbas involve a call-and-answer pattern between singers and drummers.
Rumba dancers
9.Salsa
A popular form that evolved in the 1960s, when Cuban musicians began experimenting with new sounds and styles from the US. Fusing jazz and rock with traditional son, it is normally fast and intense, but can also be slow and romantic.
10.Rap
Cuba’s contemporary rap scene differs markedly from its aggressive US counterpart. Raperos use rap to express their frustrations and focus on socio-political commentary with the intention of bettering society.
TOP 10 MUSICIANS
1.Chucho Valdés (b.1941)
This Grammy award-winning jazz pianist is considered to be one of the world’s greats.
Chucho Valdés
2.Compay Segundo (1907–2003)
Sentimental guitarist of the 1940s, Segundo’s career was resurrected with the Buena Vista Social Club movie.
3.Frank Fernández (b.1944)
Cuba’s foremost classical pianist and composer studied at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
4.Celia Cruz (1925–2003)
Legendary salsa singer who left Cuba in 1960 and found fame in the US.
5.Benny Moré (1919–63)
This tenor sang everything from son to mambo and is considered perhaps the greatest Cuban singer of all.
6.Juan Formell (1942–2014)
Founder of Orquesta Revé and Los Van Van – Cuba’s most popular salsa band.
7.Silvio Rodríguez (b.1946)
The foremost exponent of politicized nueva trova ballads, also a former member of parliament.
8.Gonzalo Rubalcaba (b.1963)
This contemporary jazz pianist performs in concerts all over the world and is a Grammy award winner.
9.Pablo Milanés (b.1943)
A singer-songwriter of nueva trova, this guitarist hails from the city of Bayamo.
10.Rubén González (1919–2003)
A renowned jazz pianist, González first performed in 1940 and starred in Buena Vista Social Club.
