大象传媒

Cuba has an astonishing new generation of experimental musicians, eager to be heard by the wider world. Gilles Peterson travels to Havana to uncover its diverse new music scene, including hip hop, jazz, fusion and son.

Cuba is poised for enormous change, following a series of discussions between Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro. Both countries are re-opening embassies in each other鈥檚 capitals. But what effect will this have on its musicians? While Cuban artists are finding it easier to tour, making music in Cuba remains difficult. A high-speed internet service is not yet widely available, so records from the US and Europe are exchanged on USB sticks.

DJ and producer Gilles Peterson uncovers the unique music that is made when young Cuban musicians fuse worldwide influences with a distinctly Cuban sound. He talks to La Reyna y La Real, a hip hop duo who address issues facing Cuban women over beats sampling salsa and cha cha cha. They perform their song Let The Rice Burn.

Eme Alfonso performs with her parents Carlos Alfonso and Ele Valdes as Sintesis, one of Cuba鈥檚 most successful bands of the 80s and 90s. Eme鈥檚 own songs draw from the music she discovered while touring the world and Havana street sounds.

Giles talks to El Ni帽o y La Verdad, 26-year-old bandleader and self-professed 鈥渃hampion of 100% popular dance music鈥�. Yissy Garcia is a percussionist and leader of jazz ensemble Broadband. She premieres a new track called Breaking News - a tribute to Cuban radio. And, Dayme Arocena, 23-year-old jazz singer and choir leader, records a session live from Havana鈥檚 legendary Egrem Studios.

(Photo: Eme Alfonso of the Cuban band Sintesis. Credit: Joseph Ros)