José Luis Cortés, "one of the most important figures in contemporary Cuban music," died on April 18 in Havana, Cuba per the Instituto Cubano de la Música Jack Irvin has over five years of experience ...

If there is one film that can serve as a metaphor for how little the world knows about Cuba, Latin America, and the rest of the region, it’s "The Forbidden Shore," a marvelous documentary that ...

Music has always had a powerful influence on Cuban culture. Its unique blend of West African and European styles has made Cuba one of the richest and most influential music regions in the world. But ...

Alexander Delgado, Yotuel, and Randy Malcom (left to right) in the "Patria y Vida" music video directed by Asiel Babastro. (all screenshots used with permission of Asiel Babastro) Last week, a new ...

The son of Juan Formell, a giant of Cuban music, he found his own voice as a singer-songwriter. He died during a performance in New York. By Alex Williams Juan Carlos Formell, an acclaimed ...

Musically, Cuba is like a paellera—the pan in which locals cook up their take on the Spanish paella—filled with flamenco licks, Jamaican dancehall riddims, West African drum beats, and club-ready ...

The film is now in postproduction. “As a fanatical student of Cuban music it’s easy to recognize when you see someone that’s special, not only musically, but lyrically,” he said. “Angela Alvarez is a ...

Growing up in Havana in the 1970s violinist Ilmar Gavilán and his younger brother, pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, experienced music as a powerfully binding force. Playing and composing was a family ...

Last year, Robbie Robertson played “The Weight” with musicians around the world, including Ringo Starr, Japanese guitar virtuoso Char, Congo soul singer Mermens Mosengo, and others. It’s been streamed ...

The Cuban singer and bandleader Daymé Arocena is best known for her massive voice, a throaty bellow that has invited comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Celia Cruz, the queen divas themselves. But ...

Historic Panart Records sessions have been remastered and collected in a new five volume set. The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions were recorded at various locations around Havana from 1956 to 1964 for the ...

The Fabrica del Arte, a private art gallery and performance space in an old cooking oil factory in Havana, has seen its share of big stars. Esperanza Spalding, Usher, Dave Matthews and a parade of ...