What does Cuban music sound like in Canada? Episode 1 traces musical migrations and creative remixes — from Chicho Valle’s 1970s recordings to today’s rising voices.

• Chicho Valle • “Que Pasa Con el Cha‑Cha‑Cha” — A 1970 classic from one of the Cuban artists who helped bring Cuban music to Canadian airwaves.

• OKAN • “Que Pasa con el Cha‑Cha‑Cha” — An unreleased live version blending Afro-Cuban roots with the duo’s distinct contemporary sound.

• Hilario Duran • “Pacá Por Juanito” — Big band energy, from Cry Me A River (2023).

• Alex Cuba • “Catando de Alegria” — From the JUNO- and Grammy-winning artist’s album Sublime (2019).

• Dee Hernandez • “Remember Those Days” — A 2022 single from the Cuban-born vocalist based in New Brunswick.

• Luis Deniz • “Gesture” — From the Juno-nominated first disk El Tinajon (2022), by the Toronto-based saxophonist.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 1 (Aired Monday, October 7, 2024)

A rare salsa tune in French by a former child star from Havana, more Cuban-Canadian musical history from Montreal and Halifax, women sing Bill Withers, and a Toronto-centric salsa cut.

• Andy Rubal • “Le Bonheur” — French-language salsa from the 2022 album 75 Degrees.

• Chiquitín and Vic Vogel • “Sueño Terrible” — From Boleros Holguineros (2004), a collaborative project bridging Montreal and Cuba.

• Marta Elena • “De la Habana a Toronto” — Title track from the 2021 album highlighting Cuban migration stories.

• Maqueque • “Ain’t No Sunshine” — 2014 cover from Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, reimagining the Bill Withers classic.

• Jeff Goodspeed and Jorge Chicoy • “Joy” — A 2003 live cut from Havanafax Live, linking Halifax and Havana.



Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 5 (Aired Monday, December 2, 2024)

This episode features two holiday songs from Canadian Cubans — one from the East Coast and one from Toronto — two classics from one of Canada’s first Cuban singers, a Cuban-Grenadian collaboration, and some serious Afro-Cuban Canadian percussion.

• Dee Hernandez • “Navidad Under the Stars” — A seasonal single from this Halifax-based Cuban vocalist.

• Hilario Duran • “Venid, Adoremos (Oh Come All Ye Faithful)” — From the 2013 album Christmas Salsa, a jazz-inflected take on the holiday standard.

• Chicho Valle • “Perfidia” — One of two vintage recordings from the 1970 album "Este Es Chicho Valle", a pioneer of Cuban music in Canada.

• Chicho Valle • “Anna” — Another classic cut from "Este Es Chicho Valle" (1970), blending bolero and Latin pop.

• Joaquín Núñez Hidalgo & Eddie Bullen • “Soca Salsa” — A fusion piece from the 2009 album Havana Nights, reflecting a cross-Caribbean exchange.

• Battle of Santiago • “Aguanileo” — A high-energy Afro-Cuban track from the Toronto-based group’s 2017 album "Migra" .



Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 6 (Aired Monday, December 16, 2024)

Inspired by sounds you might have heard at Toronto’s Lula Lounge over a decade ago, this episode features selections from the 2012 compilation "Lula Lounge Essential Tracks", showcasing Cuban and Cuban-Canadian artists connected to the city’s vibrant Latin music scene, and one of its key live music venues.

• Yani Borrell • “Latinos” — Captures the energy of Toronto’s Latin community. 

• Alberto Alberto • “Toronto Tiene su Cosa” — A salsa track reflecting Toronto’s local style. 

• Puentes Brothers • “Oye Rumberito” — originally from their 2001 album "Morumba Cubana", combining traditional Cuban son with contemporary elements.

• Lady Son • “Cantame Sonera” — A vocal-driven son track rooted in Cuban tradition.

• Son Aché • “Approvéchame” — A rhythmic piece blending Afro-Cuban influences with Toronto sounds.

• Luis Orbegoso • “Mi Mambo Pide Campana” — A lively mambo capturing Toronto’s Cuban-Canadian festive spirit. 

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 7 (Aired Monday, December 30, 2024)

This episode features Cuban and Cuban-adjacent artists based in Canada, blending contemporary styles that move beyond traditional Cuban music—from reggaeton-pop and Afro-Cuban jazz to soulful vocals and fresh rhythms.

• Javier Chacon — “Let Me Free” (Solo, 2024) — A reggaeton-pop vibe with catchy rhythms and smooth flow.

• Ali Enriquez — “Se Vale Llorar” (Single, 2023) — A heartfelt track embracing vulnerability and emotion.

• Rachel Therrien — “Mambo Chucho Influenciado” (Single, 2024) — A vibrant, extended mambo with dynamic jazz influences (featuring Cuban duo OKAN).

• Rafael Zaldivar — “Guajiro” (Rumba, 2022) — A soulful rumba grounded in traditional Cuban roots.

• Adonis Puentes — “Mi Flor” (Vida, 2024) — A warm, melodic tune full of heartfelt expression.

• Adonis Puentes — “Con las Hadas” (Vida, 2024) — Closes with a tender lyrical cut showcasing Puentes’ softer side.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 8 (Aired Monday, January 13, 2025)

This episode highlights a range of Cuban and Cuban-Canadian artists exploring identity, memory, and musical hybridity—featuring layered vocals, acoustic textures, and two generations of piano virtuosity.

• Glenda del E — “Fit in. Not!” (Q-Ban Mixology, 2010) — A rhythmically charged track reflecting on the challenges of belonging and cultural legibility.

• Glenda del E & Daniela Padrón — “Bésame” (Ella, 2023) — A pared-down arrangement that leans into simplicity and expressive phrasing.

• Alex Cuba — “Ciudad Hembra” (Sublime, 2019) — A poetic piece with subtle grooves and a singer-songwriter feel.

• Alex Cuba — “Hoy Como Ayer” (Sublime, 2019) — A reflective track with warm acoustic tones and lyrical clarity.

• Jane Bunnett — “Yo Siempre OdiARa” (Spirits of Havana, 1993) — An ensemble-driven track from a formative moment in Cuban-Canadian jazz collaborations.

• Hilario Durán & David Virelles — “Guajira for Two Pianos” (Front Street Duets, 2024) — An intergenerational piano dialogue, drawing on shared roots and divergent styles.

Cuban Sounds In Canada: EPISODE 9 (Aired Monday, January 27, 2025)

This episode highlights the Canadian presence at the 2024 Havana International Jazz Festival. Host Karen Dubinsky shares her eyewitness account, paired with music from artists who either performed at the festival or are connected to its spirit. Featured are contributions from Cuban-Canadian and Cuban artists working across jazz, spoken word, and experimental sounds.

• Rachel Therrien — “Porcelanosa” (Mi Hogar, 2023) — A textured and melodic piece from the Montreal-based trumpeter, blending Cuban rhythm with jazz phrasing.

• Simon Denizart — “Music Box” (Piece of Mind, 2024) — A contemplative, piano-driven composition from the Paris-born, Montreal-based artist.

• Telmary — “Marilú” (A Diario, 2006) — Spoken word meets Afro-Cuban groove in this track by one of Havana’s most distinctive voices.

• Miguel de Armas — “Song for My Little Son” (What’s to Come, 2017) — An intimate and lyrical jazz composition from the Ottawa-based pianist.

• Tony Rodríguez — “Let’s Play” (At Last, 2018) — A dynamic and extended instrumental from the Havana-born, Toronto-based pianist, fusing Cuban jazz traditions with playful improvisation.

Cuban Sounds In Canada: EPISODE 10 (Aired Monday, February 10, 2025)

Featuring fresh sounds from Quebec’s Boogát and Montreal’s Marion Brunelle alongside Cuban heavyweights Oliver Valdés and Alexis Baro, plus Cuban-adjacent artist Alex Bellegarde, this episode highlights the diverse ways Cuban music resonates across Canada’s musical landscape.

• Oliver Valdés — “Mani” (Nasobuco, 2022) — A dynamic percussion-driven track showcasing Valdés’ powerful drumming and Afro-Cuban roots.

• Boogát, with Okan — “+ Que 1 Chingx” (Del Horizonte, 2024) — A fresh fusion blending Latin hip-hop with contemporary urban sounds from Quebec’s vibrant scene.

• Marion Brunelle (with Alexy, El Tipo Este) — “No Te Mereces” (Ahora Existo, 2018) — A soulful, emotive track blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with smooth vocals.

• Alex Bellegarde — “La Vaca” (Caminando, 2006) — A spirited tune with rich Havana-inspired grooves from the Cuban-adjacent Montreal artist.

• Alexis Baro and Pueblo Nuevo Jazz Project — “Laberinto” (Sugar Rush, 2016) — An intricate jazz piece led by Baro’s trumpet, weaving Afro-Cuban influences into modern jazz.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 11 (Aired Monday, February 24, 2025)

This week’s episode moves across Canada’s musical map — from 1960s Havana to 1990s Montreal, and onward to contemporary scenes in Toronto, Victoria, and Halifax. Researcher Melissa Noventa introduces a rare track by Magaly Tars, and we continue with more Cuban-Canadian sounds from Dee Hernandez, Pablo Cardenas, Dánae Olano, and Ogguere.

• Magaly Tars — “Otro Amor Vendrá” (Mosaico Cubano, date unknown) — A vintage track from Havana’s past, introduced by Melissa Noventa.

• Pablo Cardenas — “Grateful” (Live at CFUV, 2018) — A heartfelt piano solo from this Victoria-based Cuban musician.

• Dee Hernandez — “Just Friends” (Single, 2023) — A soulful jazz interpretation by the Halifax-based vocalist.

• Ogguere — “La Habana del Norte” (Raíces, 2024) — Contemporary Cuban hip hop with nods to Toronto as the “Havana of the North.”

• Dánae Olano — “Step In” (Children’s Corner, 2023) — A rich, lyrical piano composition that closes the episode on an introspective note.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 12 (Aired Monday, March 10, 2025)

This week's episode starts with two songs from Alex Cuba’s album of tracks recorded with his family in Cuba. Also featured: a new album by trumpeter Rachel Therrien, a single by Elmer Ferrer, and two selections from Hilario Durán, taken from the soundtrack to the 2019 Canadian-made film The Cuban.

• Alex Cuba with Tia Yoya — “Aurora” (Voces de Mi Familia, 2024) — A tender interlude showcasing intergenerational harmony, rooted in Cuban family tradition.

• Alex Cuba and Mama Maria — “No Cocina Cualquiera” (Voces de Mi Familia, 2024) — A playful, heartfelt tribute to culinary and maternal wisdom.

• Rachel Therrien — “Sueños de Cambios” (Mi Hogar II, 2025) — A rich, forward-looking jazz composition blending bold trumpet lines with Afro-Caribbean grooves.

• Elmer Ferrer — “Rid the World of Greed” (Single, 2025) — A searing instrumental marked by Ferrer’s virtuosic guitar work and expressive tone.

• Havanafax — “Mr. Pete King” (Havanafax, 2002) — A funky, fast-paced track that fuses Cuban timba energy with early-2000s Canadian jazz experimentation.

• Hilario Durán — “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” (The Cuban, 2019) — A lush and nostalgic interpretation of the bolero classic from the celebrated pianist.

•Hilario Durán — “El Cañonero” (The Cuban, 2019) — A lively and rhythmically complex piece that highlights Durán’s signature blend of Cuban jazz virtuosity.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 13 (Aired Monday, March 24 2025)

This week we hear from several well-known Toronto-based Cuban musicians: Alexis Baro, Marta Elena, and Yoser Rodríguez. The episode opens with a track by Toronto music veteran Bill King, featuring Okan and Roberto Riverón.

• The Uprising (Bill King) — “Havana Odyssey” (Isle of Saints, 2017) — A vibrant instrumental journey capturing the textures and rhythms of Havana through a Toronto jazz lens.

• Alexis Baro (featuring Telmary) — “Eres” (Guilty Pleasures, 2015) — A sultry fusion of jazz trumpet and Afro-Cuban spoken word, delivered with groove and flair.

• Marta Elena — “El Don de la Vida” (De la Habana a Toronto, 2021) — A powerful, heartfelt track celebrating life, heritage, and the Afro-Cuban musical tradition.

• Yoser Rodríguez — “Muchacha” (Pollen, 2016) — A playful, rhythmic tune blending Cuban funk and jazz with Rodríguez’s signature bass lines.

• Yoser Rodríguez — “Entendimiento” (Pollen, 2016) — A smooth and introspective track exploring themes of understanding and connection through layered instrumentation.

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 14 (Aired Monday, April 7 2025)

Archive of the Queen’s University CFRC radio show “Cuban Sounds in Canada”: Cuban music, made in Canada. Featuring Cuban and Cuban-adjacent musicians

Cuban Sounds in Canada: EPISODE 1 (Aired Monday, October 7, 2024)

Cuban Sounds in Canada (CFRC radio show archive)