Afro-Cuban

Afro-Cuban on vinyl: drums, son and the Buena Vista Social Club

In short: Afro-Cuban music combines African rhythms with Spanish melodies: son, rumba and mambo are its best-known forms. Its drummers shaped jazz and Latin music in the US from the fifties onwards, and in 1997 the Buena Vista Social Club took Cuba’s old musicians around the world. The Vinyl Room currently has 44 records in this style.

What is Afro-Cuban music?

In Cuba, African and Spanish traditions grew into rhythms and forms of their own. From the fifties, Cuban percussionists such as Candido, Mongo Santamaría and Francisco Aguabella played with jazz musicians in the US – Cal Tjader recorded albums such as “Los Ritmos Calientes” with them. Many percussion records of the time were sold as stereo demonstration records. The album “Buena Vista Social Club” (1997), produced by Ry Cooder, made singers such as Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo famous worldwide.

What to look for

You recognise US originals of the fifties and sixties by label, catalogue number and runout. Cuban pressings are not widespread in Europe, and signed records are special one-offs.

From our stock

First pressings

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FAQ

What is Afro-Cuban music? Music from Cuba with African roots, such as son, rumba and mambo.

What is the Buena Vista Social Club? A 1997 album produced by Ry Cooder, with veteran Cuban musicians such as Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo.

Who were the great Cuban percussionists in the US? Among others Candido, Mongo Santamaría and Francisco Aguabella.