Sexteto Habanero

In the early 20th Century, three Cuban musicians created the Oriental Trío to play folklore music from the western part of the island. The trio later added members, changed its name to Sexteto Habanero, and was the first and most influential son player, a vivid Afro-Hispanic fusion of musical styles.

The son is made up of two stylistic levels. The first level (of African origin) is the rumba rhythm over which a variety of percussionists improvise. The second level (of Spanish origin) is provided by combination of three-stringed guitars known as the tres and an improvised bass. The lyrics in Spanish are sung in rhyming octosyllabic verses. During the twenties the Sexteto Habanero was the permanent son band in Cuba.

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