Septeto Santiaguero

CUBA

Septeto Santiaguero

🇨🇺

Septeto Santiaguero 🇨🇺

Two-time Latin Grammy winners and Grammy nominees Septeto Santiaguero pay homage to septeto, one of Cuba's most important musical forms, with a vitality that demonstrates the tradition is alive and well.

The band was formed in 1995 by members of Melodías de Ayer, a group that had, for three decades, ruled the Casa de la Trova in Santiago de Cuba – a venue that has been home for many of Cuba’s most important musicians for more than 50 years. Returning to their roots, they dug into the traditional septeto formation, with one notable exception: They perform as an eight-piece, adding the tumbadora (bass drum) in honour of legendary Cuban composer, musician, and bandleader Arsenio Rodríguez. 

But the eponymous “septeto” is intentional: their exciting take on Cuban traditions including son, bolero, guaracha, guajira, and guaguancó is rooted, deeply, in the septeto sound: Two-part vocal harmonies, guitar, tres (a guitar-type stringed instrument), bongo, clave, maracas, acoustic bass, and trumpet.

The band has recorded a Tiny Desk show, and has performed across Europe and the US, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Carnegie Hall, globalFEST, Lincoln Center, and many more.