Cuba Linda

Dutch-Colombian trumpeter Maite Hontelé's tour de force of Cuban rhythms is all delivered with a hint of Colombian sabor. Since moving to Medellín, Colombia, ten years ago, the Latin Grammy-nominated artist has made a name for herself across the world as a renowned salsa trumpeter. Returning to the motherland of this music, Cuba, Hontelé invited a plethora of impressive guests to record at Havana's legendary EGREM studios, including charanga legends Orquesta Aragón, rumberos Osaín del Monte, Los Van Van's Robertón, and Goyo, the singer and rapper from the successful Colombian group ChocQuibTown. It is this Colombian influence that makes this record ever more compelling, with touches of salsa choke and salsa dura sprinkled throughout.

Each composition makes you want to dance – whether it's Alain Pérez's mozambique, ‘El Cañangazo’, or the son montuno with guest Gilberto Santa Rosa – lovers of Cuban rhythms will be delighted. Hontelé's trumpet weaves throughout the various styles, at times cutting through in the diablos in ‘Para Bailar’ and at others dotting around the polyrhythms like in ‘Cuba Linda’. But it is her ability to step back that makes this a true homage to Cuban music.