Cigars and vintage American automobiles aside, Cuba is probably best known for its passionate music – a vibrant blend of Latin spirit and Caribbean sounds, peppered with hints of African and even a little European influence. Despite being globally perceived as a country with its fair share of problems, Cuba’s culture has never stopped flourishing, and, thanks to people like Ry Cooder and his Buena Vista project, many Cuban musicians have been able to have their music showcased to the world, including Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and several others. Ferrer’s Compositor Confundido, featured here, shows only too well that in Cuba, old age seems to have no effect on artistic talent. In fact, both Ferrer and Segundo remained captivating and dynamic musicians till their demise, Ferrer at 78 and Segundo at 95!

Putumayo presents Cuba is largely based on the traditional son, an essential factor of Cuban music and a forerunner of the more widely acknowledged salsa. However, while salsa involves a hastier rhythm, son relies on more of a swing factor, although this in itself is pretty energetic, just the same. Good examples of this are the contributions from the Afro-Cuban Jazz Project (Campina), Orquesta Sublime (Sabroso) and the livelier El Adios De Este Momento from Eliades Ochoa, incidentally another member of the Buena Vista project.

Of particular note is Mi Son’s Mecanica de Amor, which replaces son’s traditional brass sounds with some eloquent violin accompaniment, and Irakere’s Boliviana, featuring some fine flute playing.