The Spanish Tinge

Two currents crossed the Caribbean: habanera entered American music while Cuban son took shape on its own path.

This is not one rhythm giving birth to another. Habanera and contradanza circulated through Atlantic ports before commercial son took shape, leaving a clear mark on American popular music and early jazz. At the same time, son developed through eastern Cuba and Havana's sextetos before Arsenio Rodríguez transformed the conjunto in the 1940s. Travel between Havana, New Orleans and New York kept the two histories in conversation. Follow the crossings without flattening them into one family tree.

Theme

lineage

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