Caribbean Music

Most people, world music fans or not, are familiar with Putumayo World Music.

If you want to have a listen to some music that has clear influences from both classical Indian music and other styles of caribbean music, dig into some soca music or Chutney music.

Reggaeton is sweeping the Latin music world with its irrepressible blend of tropical Latin and reggae rhythms. Today many of the most popular reggaeton artists come from Puerto Rico, but you can't keep this music from sailing out to the rest of the world.

When you hear someone talk about Cuban salsa, they’re most probably talking about the uniquely Cuban musical form called ‘timba.’ Timba has a similar rhythm to salsa, you can dance your favorite salsa steps to the music and it is often classified as a sub-genre of salsa. But, one look at the timeline of the evolution of salsa vs. timba immediately clarifies the issue.

The word ‘bachata’ has gone through many transitions, meaning different things at different periods of Dominican history. It started out as just a word designating traditional guitar music, although in the 1960s it was used to label romantic guitar music. A ‘bachata’ was also a generic label for gatherings that took place at informal Sunday afternoon parties where guitar-based groups would play for casual recreation. It was also music that played a large role in entertainment in cabarets (which were actually brothels) and it is only recently that the stigma attached to word has been lessened.

Merengue is a type of music strongly associated with Dominican national identity. The genre started gaining in popularity in the mid-19th century, displacing the current musical leader, tumba. Influenced by Spanish decema and plena, merengue is probably a close cousin of the Haitian "meringue", a musical genre sung in Creole but with a slower tempo and more sentimental melody.

The history of Puerto Rico parallels that of Cuba in many ways until we reach the 20th century. When Columbus landed in Puerto Rico (1493), the island was the home of the Taino Indians who called it “Borinquen” (Island of the Brave Lord). The Taino Indians were wiped out fairly quickly and today there are no remaining Tainos, although their influence can still be felt on the island’s music. In fact, Puerto Rico’s national anthem is called 'La Borinquena’ (Listen), after the Taino place name.

Colombia’s vallenato started as a type of romantic cowboy music that provided a commentary on the lives of ranchers and campesinos cut off from the urban centers. It was played primarily in the countryside until it received radio commercialization in the 1940’s.

The history of Jamaican music is inextricably intertwined with the history of the Jamaican people.

Calypso is a genre of Afro-Caribbean music that comes primarily from the island of Trinidad (though calypso is found throughout the Caribbean). Like most genres of Caribbean music, calypso is heavily rooted in West African traditional music, and was originally used as a means of communication between slaves, as well as a form of entertainment.

Soca is a style of music native to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a blend of traditional calypso and classial Indian Music. Soca first came about in the 1960s and is currently one of the most popular genres of Caribbean music in the world.