Page 61 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Musical Styles ❮❮ 59

Guaguancó
6 TOP 10 MUSICIANS
Born in the slave barracoons
of 18th-century sugar estates, this
folkloric Afro-Cuban dance is highly
flirtatious. Ac companied by complex
bongo rhythms, the male dancer
circles his female partner, who
dances in a provocative yet defensive
manner in front of him.
Timba
7
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. Chucho Valdés
Rumba
8 1 Chucho Valdés (b.1941)
This Grammy award-winning jazz
Social gatherings in Cuba
often evolve into informal rumbas, pianist is considered to be one of
the world’s greats.
a generic term which covers a variety 2 Compay Segundo (1907–2003)
of African-derived rhythms and Sentimental guitarist of the 1940s,
dances involving sensuous flicks Segundo’s career was resurrected with
of the hips. Many rumbas involve the Buena Vista Social Club movie.
a call-and-answer pattern between 3 Frank Fernández (b.1944)
singers and drummers. 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)
Rumba dancers Founder of Orquesta Revé and Los Van
Van – Cuba’s most popular salsa band.
Salsa
9 7 Silvio Rodríguez (b.1946)
A popular form that evolved in
the 1960s, when Cuban musicians The foremost exponent of politicized
nueva trova ballads, also a former
began experimenting with new member of parliament.
sounds and styles from the US. 8 Gonzalo Rubalcaba (b.1963)
Fusing jazz and rock with traditional This contemporary jazz pianist
son, it is normally fast and intense, performs in concerts all over the
but can also be slow and romantic. world and is a Grammy award winner.
Rap
0 9 Pablo Milanés (b.1943)
A singer-songwriter of nueva trova, this
Cuba’s contemporary rap scene
differs markedly from its aggressive guitarist hails from the city of Bayamo.
10 Rubén González (1919–2003)
US counterpart. Raperos use rap to A renowned jazz pianist, González
express their frustrations and focus first performed in 1940 and starred
on socio-political commentary with in Buena Vista Social Club.
the intention of bettering society.

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