If salsa is the world's most popular Latin dance music, then son cubano is its mother. Born in the eastern provinces of Cuba in the late 19th century, son blended African rhythmic traditions with Spanish melodic sensibilities to create something truly revolutionary.
Origins
Son emerged from the rural communities of Oriente province, particularly Santiago de Cuba. It combined the tres guitar (a Cuban instrument with three pairs of strings), bongos, maracas, and the distinctive bass pattern played on the upright bass or botija (clay jug).
The Structure
Traditional son follows a specific form: an opening verse section (largo) followed by the montuno — a call-and-response section where the lead singer improvises (sonea) over a repeated chorus. This montuno section is what eventually evolved into modern salsa.
Key Artists
No exploration of son is complete without listening to the masters: Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, the Septeto Nacional, and the legendary Arsenio Rodríguez, who is credited with modernizing the son ensemble and laying the groundwork for salsa.
Learn Son at Latin Music Mastery
Our Cuban Music courses cover son cubano from its traditional roots to modern interpretations. Learn the tres patterns, understand the clave relationship, and master the art of sonear (improvising) in the montuno section.
