Music & Travel Blog
Stories, travel guidance, and music scholarship from our team and collaborators in Cuba
Explore articles about Cuban music, culture, travel, and the people behind the traditions we encounter on our tours. Contributions draw on the experience of musicians, musicologists, guides, and collaborators in Cuba. When you are ready to experience the music in person, explore our 2027 small-group tours.
- 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. - 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… Read more: Cuban Music Quick Guide: Son Cubano, Rumba, Timba, Jazz and More - Havana Jazz Festival 2027: Why Jazz Plaza Is One of the Best Times to Visit Cuba
Every January, Havana becomes one of the most important places in the world for Cuban jazz. The Havana Jazz Festival, also known as Jazz Plaza, brings… Read more: Havana Jazz Festival 2027: Why Jazz Plaza Is One of the Best Times to Visit Cuba - May 2026: Travel, Cultural Exchange, and Our Work in Cuba
Historical context — reviewed September 2026: This post reflects conditions and commentary at the time it was written. Travel rules, schedules, and conditions can change. For… Read more: May 2026: Travel, Cultural Exchange, and Our Work in Cuba - March 2026: Our Work and Travel News in Cuba
Historical context — reviewed September 2026: This post reflects conditions and commentary at the time it was written. Travel rules, schedules, and conditions can change. For… Read more: March 2026: Our Work and Travel News in Cuba - The History of Jazz Plaza: A Celebration of Music, Culture, and Unity
Jazz Plaza is one of Cuba’s most important music events. Known internationally as the Havana Jazz Festival, it began in Havana in 1980 and has grown… Read more: The History of Jazz Plaza: A Celebration of Music, Culture, and Unity - February 2026: A Personal Update on Cuba and Our Work ThereDear Music Traveler Friends, Historical context — reviewed September 2026: This post reflects conditions and commentary at the time it was written. Travel rules, schedules, and… Read more: February 2026: A Personal Update on Cuba and Our Work There
- Havana Jazz Plaza Festival 2026 Program: What to Expect This January in Cuba
Past festival archive — reviewed September 2026: This article covers an earlier edition of Jazz Plaza. For current information, see our Havana Jazz Festival 2027 guide… Read more: Havana Jazz Plaza Festival 2026 Program: What to Expect This January in Cuba - Cuba Travel Checklist (Reviewed September 2026)
Cuba Travel Checklist (Reviewed September 2026) What To Bring And How To Prepare For Your Cuba Trip Passport & Cuban eVisa The first thing you need… Read more: Cuba Travel Checklist (Reviewed September 2026) - Son Cubano Is UNESCO’s Newest Heritage: Why It’s the Soul of Cuban Music
UNESCO has officially inscribed the practice of Cuban Son on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For Cuba, this recognition affirms a… Read more: Son Cubano Is UNESCO’s Newest Heritage: Why It’s the Soul of Cuban Music - Jazz Plaza 2026: A Week of World-Class Jazz in HavanaPast festival archive — reviewed September 2026: This article covers an earlier edition of Jazz Plaza. For current information, see our Havana Jazz Festival 2027 guide… Read more: Jazz Plaza 2026: A Week of World-Class Jazz in Havana
- Cuba’s New Sound: The Abreu Brothers Take the Stage
ABC News recently profiled Fabio and Diego Abreu, two teenage musicians from Havana who are already reshaping the landscape of Cuban jazz. For me, their recognition… Read more: Cuba’s New Sound: The Abreu Brothers Take the Stage
