Books and other resources

From Afro-Cuban Rhythms to Latin Jazz (Music of the African Diaspora)

101 Essential Latin Bass Guitar Patterns (Book and CD) (Red Dog Music Books Bass Guitar Series)

Glossary of Cuban Music

The Music of Cuba - Reference Article

About Havana, Cuba

Cuban Music

Hear a Cuban beat and you can't stop yourself from moving, whether it be your tapping your fingers and feet, bobbing ur head, twitching your shoulders or letting it all loose and getting your whole body into it.

The mixture of Spanish and African influences led to the emergence of the Cuban Son in the 17th Century. Other popular and engaging rhythms stemming from it are the Danzon; the Pachanga from the 50's; the Rumba, Cumbia and their slower cousin, the Yambu; the Guajira; the Mambo - a creation of Orestes Lopez and brought to fruition by Perez Prado;- the Guaracha; Guaguanco and the Cha Cha Cha; which was conceived in 1948 by Enrique Jorrin, a young violinist of the Orquesta America.

In addition to Perez Prado, Orestes Lopez and Enrique Jorrin, other notable composers and interpreters of Cuban music (not all of Cuban nationality, though) are Arsenio Rodriguez, Ernesto Lecuona, Celia Cruz, the Afro Cuban Allstars, Irakere, Mongo Santamaria, Los Van Van, Ruben Gonzalez, Tito Rodriguez, Paquito D'Rivera, Oscar D'Leon, Beny More, Bola de Nieve, Orquesta Aragon, Carlos Puebla, Celina Gonzalez, Chucho Valdés, Jacqueline Castellanos and Pacho Alonso.

Of late, the Buena Vista Social Club, with such artists as Ibrahim Ferrer, the late Compay Segundo, and Eliades Ochoa, have come to be considered some of Cuba's most distinguished musicians with a music that is enjoyed and favored world-wide.

Besides the more traditional afro/latino dance rhythms of Cuba, the musical movement of the Nueva Troba, founded in the era of the 60's by Cuban musicians such as Pablo Milanés and Silvio Rodriguez, brought to Cuba's music scene a new politicized ballad that spoke favorably of the revolution and it's heros.

Scroll down to browse through our selection of music from Cuba...