As a result of the Salsa Boom that took place in Cuban music in the 1990s, and due to the emergence of Timba, a new form of salsa music originated by maestro José Luis Cortés, numerous popular dance music orchestras emerged.

The all-male groups that emerged during this period began to include women in their rosters, as is the case with Pablito FG’s La Elite. We could also find female groups whose performing quality was no different from that of the male orchestras.

Many of them currently occupy an important place in the musical scene in Cuba, such as Adalberto Álvarez and his Son, Sur Caribe, NG La Banda, Charanga Habanera, Dan Den, Canela, Colé Colé, La élite, Charanga Latina, Yumurí and his Brothers, Son Damas, Manolito Simonet and his Trabuco, Cándido Fabré and his Band, David Álvarez and Juego de Manos, Klimax, Bamboleo, Otra Visión, La Barriada, Bakuleyé, Moneda Dura, Azúcar Negra, Warapo, Chispa and Los Cómplices and Caribe Girl, Azúcar Band, among others.

Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, by Adalberto Álvarez, debuted in Santiago de las Vegas. “Chico quiere que le den candela” (Chico Wants to Get Him Burnt) is one of the hits on the group’s first album, released in 1985. They have taken their music to numerous countries around the world and have worked tirelessly to revive the Casino dance. Their most recent album was released with the song “Bailando en la Tropical.”

Sur Caribe, from the province of Santiago de Cuba, performs various genres of Cuban music as well as Caribbean rhythms. The EGREM Award in the Dance Music category in 2002 is among the accolades this orchestra has received. They have performed in Latin American and European countries and have participated in national and international music festivals and competitions.

La Charanga Habanera is directed by David Calzado and composed of young Cuban musicians. It has been named the most popular orchestra of the year on numerous occasions. “Hay mujeres” (There are women) and “Gozando en La Habana” (Going in Havana) are songs included on their album “La Carátula,” which achieved major commercial success in 2009.

NG La Banda was the group that established a new way of making Cuban dance music, through what we know today as Timba. La Expresiva, Lelolei, La Aprentadora, and Echale Limón, among others, are their most successful songs. Their CD Mis 22 años (2010) featured some of the biggest names in Cuban music.

Dan Den, who quickly gained popularity in Cuba after their debut, cultivated the Dan Den rhythm, the group’s signature element. Many of their songs have reached prominent positions on the national and international Hit Parades. Most of their albums have been released by EGREM.

Canela, a female Cuban popular music group, was founded by Zoe Fuentes Aldama, who has served as its director since its founding in August 1989. Its repertoire is varied and vast, comprising diverse Cuban and foreign musical genres, including salsa, son, cha-cha-chá, ballads, Latin jazz, and Caribbean music.

Colé Colé, a Cuban musical group founded in July 1990 under the direction of Andy Gola, is also known as La Salsa Caribe Súper. This Cuban orchestra’s repertoire includes a wide variety of musical genres, primarily an amalgamation of Cuban and Caribbean rhythms. It has performed countless times both nationally and internationally.

La Élite was created by singer-songwriter Pablo Alfonso Fernández Gallo and is a top favorite among the public. Their album, Con la Conciencia Tranquila (1997), has been hailed as one of the best albums in the entire Timba genre.

Charanga Latina, a Cuban popular music group founded in May 1992 by Enrique Álvarez, has served as its director ever since. This Cuban orchestra’s instrumental format is typical of charangas. Its repertoire includes various genres of popular dance music, such as bolero, cha-cha-chá, cumbia, merengue, son, and mambo; among them, salsa is prominent.

Yumurí and his brothers have performed in various countries, achieving notable success. Their album, Cubano Cubano (2009), features the song “Pegaito a la tarima,” which reached number one on radio stations.

Son Damas is a Cuban female orchestra founded by talented young women after completing their musical studies in 1992. This popular dance music group emerged under the banner of harmony and rhythm. Their musical compilation is exquisite in traditional Cuban music, showcased through boleros, cha-cha-chá, salsa, and rumba.

Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco shared the stage with Los Van Van at the Tropical Festival in their debut. They have won important awards, such as the Revelation of the Year (1994). Tu pa’llá y yo pa’cá (You over there and I over here) has been one of the group’s most successful songs. It’s a Cuban music project inspired by its purest roots, fusing son with timba.

Cándido Fabré and his band have performed at various national and international musical events, such as the Caribbean Festival, as well as on important stages in Latin American countries. Their albums include Cuba Baila con Cándido Fabré (1998), La Habana Quiere Guarachar Contigo (2000), and Cubano Soy (2007).

The Juego de Manos group’s fundamental purpose is the revival of traditional Cuban music. They perform guarachas, rumbas, guajiras, songs, sones, and boleros. The songs in their repertoire reflect the Cuban way of life and are written by David Álvarez. In 2005, among other activities, they performed the theme song that defined the summer campaign.

Klimax’s music blends salsa with jazz, with its jazz accent being its signature. Their repertoire includes a salsa version of the song “Cuba,” which the Gibson Brothers made popular in the 1970s. “Solo tu y yo” is their most recent album and features Omara Portuondo, Pablo Milanés, and Chucho Valdés, to name a few.

Bamboleo is the work of pianist, composer, and arranger Lázaro Valdés Jr. They are one of the pioneering Cuban Timba groups. Their music is the result of a blend of musical genres such as Salsa-Timba with Jazz and Reageton. Their most recent release, from 2010, is heavily Timba-infused and features songs such as Se Acabaron Los Guapos and La Domadora.

Otra Visión performs genres such as Cuban jazz, instrumental music, traditional music, Son, Danzón, Changüí, and Sucu Sucu. They are also known as the Maraca Salsa & Latin Jazz band. Castígala, Descarga Total, and Soy Yo are very popular songs. They have performed tirelessly at festivals and jazz venues around the world.

La Barriada, a Cuban group led by composer, arranger, and trumpeter Juan Kemell, embraces various genres of Cuban popular music, especially son, guaracha, and cha-cha-chá, incorporating Latin rhythms and achieving an authentic sound that also defines them as salsa artists. They boast a broad repertoire consisting of songs by Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, and Juan Formell, all of which, when performed by this group, have a very distinctive signature.

Bakuleyé, a Cuban popular music orchestra founded by Pedro Pablo Pérez Vargas, who has served as its director ever since. Bakuleyé is a word that comes from Yoruba culture. It refers to the image of a cane that conjures up the awakening of new ideas. In 1997, the Lucas Award was awarded the First Prize for Popular Music. They were also named Cuba’s Most Popular New Orchestra that same year.

Moneda Dura, a Cuban pop-rock group that performs songs and arrangements mostly written by its director, Nassiry Lugo. It is considered Cuba’s most famous pop-rock group. Ojalá (2002), Callejero (2004), and Alma sin bolsillos (2007) are some of its productions.

Azúcar Negra has been directed by Cuban composer Leonel Limonta since its inception in 1998. Among the awards it has received is the New Orchestra of Cuban Music Award. The songs in its repertoire are composed by its director. They have shared the stage with, among others, Charanga Habanera; Van Van; Nora Jones; Julio Iglesias; Aventura; and Don Omar.

Warapo, a Cuban band, was founded in April 1998 at the Central University of Las Villas. At that time, they weren’t called Warapo, but rather Séxtasis. In October 2000, they became a professional group, led by Alexei González, who also works as a musical arranger. The group’s debut album, Mala Vida, was released in 2004 and was released in March 2005. Critics have described it as one of the most unique projects on the Cuban musical horizon of the 2000s.

El Chispa y Los Cómplices was created in 1998. New pa’ que Vea (1999), their first album, was widely acclaimed by the public, with some of its songs reaching the top 10 on Cuban radio and TV charts. They have toured internationally and performed at numerous music festivals.

Caribe Girls is another all-female group that enjoys great popularity today. In addition to playing great Cuban music, their performances feature sensual choreography. They have participated in major national events such as the Havana Carnival and the National Son Festival.

Azúcar Band, a Cuban popular music group, is directed by Kenia Figueroa. This group’s roster consists of a total of twelve musicians who graduated from music conservatories, seven of them women and the rest men. Their repertoire includes various Cuban musical genres: Son, Salsa, Cha-Cha-Cha, Bolero, and other foreign rhythms such as Merengue and Cumbia. Reggae and Latin pop are also included.