Bolero

The bolero is the slow heart of Cuban romance: a ballad of love and loss that began with the guitar troubadours of the trova and grew, decade by decade,...

The bolero is the slow heart of Cuban romance: a ballad of love and loss that began with the guitar troubadours of the trova and grew, decade by decade, into a lush staple of the dance orchestra. Its tempo lingers, its lyrics ache, and its delivery rewards a singer who can hold a phrase. Carried from intimate serenade to full-band arrangement, it became one of salsa's indispensable moods — the song the band reaches for when the floor wants to hold each other close. The bolero's romantic repertoire fed the singer-centered salsa romántica of the 1980s — recast for salsa production by arrangers like Louie Ramírez and Isidro Infante.

Era

Son & Trova

Traits

Slow Cuban romantic ballad, from solo trovador to full orchestra — the romantic spine salsa romántica descends from.