Bamboleo is a Cuban popular music orchestra, directed and founded in the 1990s, specifically in 1995, by pianist, composer, and arranger Lázaro Valdés Jr. It is considered and included among the pioneering Cuban musical groups of the timba phenomenon that emerged in Cuban music during this period.

The group is made up of a total of fourteen Cuban musicians, all young talents who graduated from the National School of Arts (120th Street between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana), located in the capital’s Playa municipality. The group’s instrumental format consists of piano, keyboard, bass, drums, congas, timbales, saxophones, trumpets, and female and male singers.

Among the male and female vocalists who have worked in Bamboleo alongside Valdés, many of whom are now celebrities in the Cuban musical scene and have also founded their own orchestras, we can mention Alain Daniel Pico Roque, Haila Mompié, and Vannia Borges Hernández; the latter of whom founded the group.

In 1996, Bamboleo went on their first tour, dedicated to promoting their debut album, “Te gusto o te caigo bien” (I Like You or I Like You). The following year, their second album, “Yo no me parezco a nadie” (I Don’t Look Like Anyone), was released.

Aside from Bamboleo’s recordings, the orchestra has also guested on other albums, including the Temptations’ album, Ear-Resistable, which won a Grammy Award—one of the most important international music awards. They also appeared on the acclaimed MTV television program, Road Rules.

Lárazo Valdés and his Bamboleo have toured extensively internationally. Countries such as Japan, the United States, and almost every country on the European continent have witnessed the excellent Cuban music created by this popular music group.

Bamboleo’s repertoire showcases the wonderful fusion they achieve with different musical genres such as Salsa-Timba with Jazz and Reggaeton.

In 2009, Lázaro Valdés and Bamboleo released their CD, Mi verdad (My Truth). To promote and publicize the album, they embarked on an international tour of Europe that same year, beginning at the end of March. During the tour, they toured numerous cities in different countries, including Munich, Germany; Milan, Naples, Bologna, and Rome, Italy. In Spain, they performed in Barcelona, ​​Madrid, and Bilbao. In all of these cities, Bamboleo was warmly received by the public, the press, and specialized critics. They were listed as one of the most important Cuban orchestras in the interpretation of Timba.

Bamboleo’s latest release, completed in 2010, features a strong sense of Timba. It features thirteen tracks, including: Se Acabaron Los Guapos (The Guapos Are Over), La Domadora (The Dominguez), La Flor del Mambo (The Flower of Mambo), and Paciencia (Paciencia).

In their performances, they have had the opportunity to share experiences with significant musical figures such as George Benson, Femi Kuti, and James Brown.

Lázaro Valdés’ Bamboleo is one of the most prominent Cuban groups, both in Cuba and abroad, due to the high-quality performances its members demonstrate in each performance, shaking every stage and captivating the audience, thereby raising the profile of good Cuban music even higher.

Discography: I like you or I like you (1996), I don’t look like anyone (1997), It’s not necessary anymore (1999), It’s not that good (2000), My truth (2009).