Cuban son is a traditional genre of music that originated in the eastern regions of Cuba and blends African rhythms with Spanish melodies, forming the foundation for many modern Latin music styles such as salsa."
The earliest form (late 19th–early 20th century), small groups, rural/folk roots. Instruments:
👉 Played in sextetos and septetos.
Son emerged in the late 19th century in the mountains of Oriente, eastern Cuba, including the Sierra Maestra. Early forms and forerunners include changüí, nengón and kiribá. The tres probably appeared around 1890 in Baracoa.
Son reached Havana around 1909. There it probably took over the clave from the city's rumba around 1910. The first recordings were made by the Cuarteto Oriental in 1917. From then on son grew into the son urbano of the sextetos and septetos.
Son tradicional is calmer than later styles. You hear the clave and the tres clearly, which makes it good for learning the basics of Cuban timing.