The best Cuban albums of 2024

Magazine AM:PM
30.12.2024
13 minutes Reading

The year 2024 is coming to an end and, despite all the setbacks, we did not want to miss one of our most valuable traditions as a publication: to celebrate and reflect on the music that accompanied us. This year marked a difficult time for the magazine, and compiling this list not only allows us to reconnect with the Cuban music scene, but also serves as a testimony of what these 366 days were like for the team and for our community.

In a world in which Cuban music remains an occasional or exotic interest for many, this selection seeks to be a compass among so much noise. Although the list has fewer contributors than on other occasions (to whom we are infinitely grateful), we are convinced that the albums gathered here are essential to understand the moment. We hope it helps you to relive sensations and, of course, we will be delighted to hear about the gems that are on your particular list.

Spoiler: With this listing we close the year and open the doors to a new stage for our magazine. We dream that the conversation about music in Cuba will flourish again, stronger than before.

Alkemi - Daymé Arocena

With AlkemiDaymé Arocena ventures into more expansive territories, keeping a firm foot in her Afro-Cuban roots while exploring genres such as jazz, R&B, funk and reggaeton. Produced by Eduardo Cabra, the album balances the experimental and the accessible, though not without sparking debate as to whether his music has adopted a more commercial profile. Be that as it may, the result is undeniable: A Fuego Lentohis collaboration with Vicente García, was nominated for Song of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards and the album appeared on the list of the 50 best Latin albums of the year according to the Latin Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone.

The album opens with May the sea take it awaya piece that combines the ritual with the experimental. For Youwhich was later reinvented with a remix together with iLe, stands out for its delicacy, while Soft and Stickytogether with Rafa Pabön, brings a fresh air of urban pop. These songs, and others, such as American BoyArocena and Cabra are not afraid of risk, a hallmark of the producer.

Alkemi confirms Daymé Arocena's versatility, although her shift towards more accessible terrain may divide opinions. However, her impact on contemporary music and Afro-Cuban representation continues to open new doors, both for her and for the sound she represents.

Pa' tu cuerpa - Cimafunk

Pa' Tu Cuerpa consolidates Cimafunk as one of the great innovators of Cuban urban music. Released after a successful campaign in the first half of the year, the album gathers collaborations with heavyweights such as George Clinton, Big Freedia and Monsieur Periné, reaffirming his international projection.

Since the energy explosion in Cuchi Cuchi to the warmth of Beach NightCimafunk, together with Michaël Brun and Keyon Harrold, demonstrates an inexhaustible curiosity to explore sounds. Catalinawith Monsieur Periné, and Prettywith Big Freedia, stand out as high points of an album that is not afraid to diversify its proposal.

Despite the lack of narrative cohesion that some might point out, Pa' Tu Cuerpa was nominated for a Grammy 2025 for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. It is a testament to Cimafunk's dynamism and its ability to reinvent Cuban music in a global key.

COLLAB - Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Hamilton of the Netherlands

In CollabOn the album, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Hamilton de Holanda masterfully intertwine Afro-Cuban and Brazilian traditions. Released under Sony Music Brasil, the album highlights the chemistry between the two artists, who achieve a musical dialogue that transcends genres and borders.

The album opens with an instrumental version of Incompatibility of Gêniosby João Bosco and Aldir Blanc, which sets the tone for an in-depth exploration of classics and original compositions. The inclusion of Yolanda AnasRubalcaba's emblematic composition, brings an introspective dimension to the album, while pieces such as Flying Chicken showcase the duo's technical prowess and ability to maintain constant energy without losing precision.

Collab not only strengthens the connection between Rubalcaba and De Holanda, but also broadens the horizons of contemporary Latin jazz, making it a must-have of the year, as evidenced by its nominations for Latin Grammy 2024 and Grammy 2025 in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album.

Live - 100 Years of Sugar - Celia Cruz

In commemoration of its centennial, Live: 100 Years of Sugar revives the magic of Celia Cruz on stage. Recorded in Miami between 1986 and 1987, the album captures the essence of her performances and her unique connection with the audience.

The repertoire includes interpretations of classics such as Quimbara and Your Voicepresented in versions that, although familiar, reveal nuances of improvisation and interaction with the audience. The pieces, restored and remastered by engineer Pedro "Waldy D" Domínguez, allow us to appreciate the strength of his voice and the mastery of his orchestra.

The album was produced by Loud And Live Studios, curated by Nelson Albareda, Omer Pardillo-Cid and broadcaster Albertico Rodríguez, who discovered these recordings while exploring historical archives. This chance discovery adds historical and emotional value to the project, allowing new generations to get closer to Celia Cruz's legacy and longtime fans to relive emblematic moments of her career.

More than two decades after her death, her legacy lives on, and this album stands as a tribute that invites us to celebrate her life and her music with the same joy and passion that she transmitted in every performance.

Caracoles - Akokán Orchestra

SnailsOrquesta Akokán's third album reaffirms its commitment to the revitalization of mambo, fusing the essence of the great Cuban orchestras of the 20th century with a modern perspective. Led by Kiko Ruiz and under the direction of Jacob Plasse and Michael Eckroth, the album blends tradition and spirituality, as on Bread With Tibiri and the homonymous song, which explores Mozambican rhythms and Afro-Cuban roots.

The inclusion of female choirs in tracks such as Smooth Smooth brings a new dimension to the sound of the orchestra, enriching the musical texture. For its part, Cha-Cha-Cha Pa'Cafeaturing Carolina Oliveros, vocalist of Combo Chimbita, offers a vocal dialogue that highlights the versatility and scope of Orquesta Akokán.

Critics have received Snails with enthusiasm, highlighting his ability to connect the mambo legacy with the present day. Media such as AllMusic point out that the orchestra is not merely a revivalist, but creates 21st century polyrhythmic and jazz innovations, demonstrating that the mambo is still relevant musically, culturally and spiritually.

Much more than words - Dayron Ortiz

With Much More Than WordsDayron Ortiz's second solo album, the remarkable guitarist pays tribute to the emblematic composer Marta Valdés by reinterpreting a dozen of her songs with contemporary arrangements that respect the original essence of the pieces.

Accompanied by outstanding musicians such as Mayquel González on trumpet, Emir Santa Cruz on saxophone, Rodrigo García on piano and the voice of Annys Batista, Ortiz offers a fresh vision of classics such as Song From Another World, No Hagas Caso and En la Imaginación.

The album, produced with the support of the Fondo de Arte Joven in collaboration with the Colibrí record label and Abdala Studios, has been recognized by critics, who have praised Ortiz's ability to bring new details and textures to Valdés' compositions, creating a purposeful album that connects generations and musical styles.

Cuba and Beyond - Chucho Valdés, Royal Quartet

Celebrating six decades of a prolific musical career, Chucho Valdés presents Cuba & Beyondan album that masterfully fuses Afro-Cuban roots with influences from jazz, classical music and contemporary rhythms. Accompanied by his electrifying Royal Quartet, composed of Horacio "El Negro" Hernández on drums, José A. Gola on bass and Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno on percussion, Valdés offers a work that reflects his constant artistic evolution.

With this escort, Valdés offers pieces such as Punto Cubanoa tribute to peasant rhythms, Congablueswhere he fuses genres with infectious energy, and Mozart a la Cubanaa bridge between classical music and Cuban rhythms, in which they reinterpret the Sonata in C Major of Mozart with a danzonero flavor.

Cuba & Beyond not only celebrates the legacy of Chucho Valdés, but also reaffirms his ability to innovate and transcend genres, consolidating himself as a central figure in contemporary music, giving us at 83 years of age a jazz master class.

Black Box Season 1-2 - Tribe Caribe Music, VVAA

Black Box Season 1-2 is a compilation reflecting the effervescent contemporary Cuban music scene, presented by Tribe Caribe Music. Released in October 2024, the album brings together several emerging artists who participated in the first two seasons of the Black Box talent contest, organized by Venezuelan-American composer and producer Andrés Levin, and held at the Tribe Caribe Cayo Hueso boutique hostel in Havana.

From Ojalá Te LlegueMelanie Santiler's composition, which opens the album, and throughout its 14 tracks, various genres are explored, such as reggae (Reggae Con-Sentido) the ranchera (The Devil's DaughterBelladonna), pop (HeartDuo Lür), jazz (Dad on the MoonThe Abreu Brothers; Behind My PianoCubop Legacy). This sound diversity reflects Black Box's mission to promote and enhance all interactive forms of musical creation in Cuba.

Black Box Season 1-2 not only celebrates the diversity and richness of Cuban music today, but also serves as a bridge between musical traditions and the new sound proposals that are defining the future of the Cuban music scene. We look forward to future editions.

22 paths (set of EPs) - Bebeshito

22 Roads is an ambitious series of EPs released by Bebeshito throughout 2024, consolidating his presence as the man of the moment in Cuban urban music. With a strategic approach that has yielded much success, the decision to break up the project into multiple EPs has kept his music in constant rotation and conversation.

Songs like La Cubana Que Falta En Miami (22 Roads: EP 2); Mandarina Brand (22 Roads: EP 4); How Rich I Feel (22 Roads: EP 5) Y The Blender (22 Roads: EP 6) have become omnipresent hymns in both physical and virtual space for the Cuban community, inside and outside the country.

The closing of 2024 was monumental for the artist, achieving a concert that was sold out at Miami's Pitbull Stadium, where 20 thousand people enjoyed his repertoire in a night that consolidated his impact beyond Cuba's borders. This success, however, has not been without controversy. Like other urban music figures, Bebeshito has faced the scorn of certain elitist sectors that dismiss his work as "uncultured"; but the artist's overflowing popularity has shown that his connection with the public transcends any label or prejudice.

I wanted to know - Silvio Rodríguez

On June 7, 2024, Silvio Rodriguez released Wanted to KnowThis is his 22nd studio album, reminding us why he is considered one of the most influential singer-songwriters in Spanish-language music. This work, made up of 11 songs, brings back a composer whose works stand out for the precise blending of the lyricism of his lyrics with his musical arrangements. At 77 years of age, Silvio enters the so-called third age without losing the ability to move us. His music, more than ever, has the flavor of timelessness.

The album includes titles such as Wanted to Knowa song that addresses the journey of life and celebrates the innate curiosity of being human; Danzón for the Waitingwhich fuses traditional Cuban genres with Silvio's unmistakable lyricism, and Tonada for two poems by Rubén Martínez Villenathe only song that is not from this century, composed in the early 70's and rescued for the occasion.

Wanted to Know is a reminder that Silvio continues to explore new sonorities and themes, reaffirming his relevance and offering songs that stand the test of time, already consolidated as part of the Latin American musical legacy.