A Musical Route Across Cuba: How the Island’s Regions Shaped Its Sound
A listening route through Cuba’s regional traditions, from changüí and son in the east to rumba in Matanzas and Havana’s urban musical currents.
Category Cuban Music History
Explore the history of son, rumba, danzón, timba and Cuban jazz through artist profiles, regional traditions and stories from our journal. Start with our guide to Cuban music genres, or follow a musical route across Cuba to understand how the island’s regions shaped its sound.
Cuban Music Quick Guide: Son Cubano, Rumba, Timba, Jazz and More
Cuban music has never been one single sound. It developed across different regions, communities and periods of Cuban history, producing traditions with distinct musical structures, instruments and social functions. Son cubano, rumba, danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá, trova, bolero, Afro-Cuban jazz, songo…
A Snowy Morning, a Spinning Record, and the Rhythms That Took Me to Cuba
By Chaz Chambers, Founder of Havana Music Tours It’s a snowy spring morning in Colorado—the kind that makes you pause, sip your coffee a little slower, and let the moment unfold. My six-month-old son is hanging out with me in…
Tracing the Threads: The Integral Role of Cuban Music in the History of Jazz
The Symbiotic Journey of Cuban Music and Jazz: From Havana to New Orleans and New York By Yami Cabrera (Cuban musicologist and Co-Director of Havana Music Tours and Musical Getaways) In the realm of music, few genres demonstrate the dynamic interplay of cultural…
5 Popular Music Festivals in Cuba: Havana, Varadero & More
Music Festivals in Cuba (Reviewed September 2026) Current tour note: Festival schedules and lineups can change. Havana Music Tours currently offers an open-signup Havana Jazz Festival Tour for January 26–February 1, 2027. The other festival itineraries below can be arranged…
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Cuban Music
The Global Influence of Cuban Music Cuban music is a rich tapestry that has not only shaped the island’s cultural identity but has also left a significant mark on the global music scene. Its rhythmic vitality and vibrant melodies reflect…
Celebrating Cuban Culture Day with a New Santiago de Cuba Music Tour 2024
Tour Release Historical tour release — reviewed September 2026: This post announces our 2024 Santiago de Cuba departure. Santiago is now offered as a private custom music and cultural tour with dates by request. Today, as we honor Cuban Culture…
Cuban Music Celebration: Cuban Musicians at the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards
By Laluly Romeri (Cuban musicologist and Business Development Specialist of Havana Music Tours and Musical Getaways) Joy grows among Cuban musicians and music lovers after the beautiful night they had yesterday during and after the Latin Grammys Awards 2022. Cuba and its musicians were awarded…
Back to Mambo with Toques del Río
Mambo Music is back By Laluly Romeri (Cuban musicologist and Business Development Specialist of Havana Music Tours and Musical Getaways) ¿Tú no querías Mambo? (did you want Mambo?) It’s the question of the moment for the public that follows good Cuban music…
The Chan Chan Route: Traditional Cuban Music from Alto Cedro to the World
By Rocío de Lucía (Cuban Musicologist) One of the most iconic Cuban songs is undoubtedly “Chan Chan.” Many people can immediately identify that simple but delicious composition just by entering the four chords on which the song is based, authored by another…