I enjoy a lot of old music from Cuba and the whole Cuban tradition. I’ve heard a variety of recordings, but I’m especially interested in the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition. Some are from Cubans in exile, and some was recorded in Cuba. Chano Pozo, Mario Bauza and Frank Grillo aka Machito are a few favorites.
Bebo Valdes and his son Chucho Valdes both have some excellent work as both players and composers. The late Bebo Valdes recorded in the 1950’s and had a revival from 1995 to 2008. Bebo Valdes was also an arranger and bandleader. He was a close friend with Cachao (born Israel López Valdés) who was a major force. Cachao, with his brother Orestes López Valdés developed the Mambo in the late 1930’s, naming a danzon Mambo in 1938.
In 1990, I saw the Mario Bauza Orchestra play at Clark Park in Detroit and took some good photos of that show. Mario Baza started off playing with big bands, mainly those of Chick Webb and Cab Calloway. He played trumpet and other instruments. As an arranger and composer, he did important work with Machito and with Dizzy Gillespie.
I got to see Cachao and his Orchestra play at Hart Plaza. I believe that it was part of the African World Festival series. I went to that with my friend the late Jacques Karamanoukian. Jacques loved Cuban jazz music.
Cuban music is often tied to dance especially the rhumba and the cha-cha-chá. I’m not dancing so much now but I’m still grooving, studying and listening.
Here are some other great Cuban musical artists and bands:
Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill, Pérez Prado, Enrique Jorrín, Mongo Santamaria, Los Van Van, Irakere, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the Buena Vista Social Club.
Some excellent Cuban singers: Benny Moré, Celia Cruz, Ibrahim Ferrer and La Lupe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Cuban_jazz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumba
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbao
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Cuba
Benny Moré:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Mor%C3%A9
Bebo Valdés:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebo_Vald%C3%A9s
Cachao:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachao
Mario Bauza:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Bauz%C3%A1
The Mambo started in Cuban and the sound and style became more popular:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mambo_(music)
I really liked the compilation “Cuban Music 1909-1951” that came out in the year 2000. It was assembled by the late music historian Michael Brooks.
Also excellent was I AM TIME, a fine 4 CD compilation from 1997, a review:
https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/essentialelsewhere/2144/various-cuba-i-am-time-1999/
I Hear Music 