Songo

Songo is a Cuban music and dance style that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It bridges Afro-Cuban rhythms with modern influences like funk, rock, and jazz.

Origins

• Developed by Los Van Van, led by bassist Juan Formell and drummer/percussionist José Luis "Changuito" Quintana.
• Evolved as a modernization of son, rumba, and other Cuban traditions, using new rhythmic concepts and instrumentation.

Rhythm

• Built on Afro-Cuban clave, but more flexible than traditional son or mambo.
• Drum set became central, blending with congas, timbales, and bongos.
• Changuito pioneered "timba drumming," mixing funk backbeats with Cuban tumbaos and cascara patterns.

Musical Features

• Syncopated electric bass lines (instead of upright bass).
• Use of synthesizers and electric instruments alongside traditional percussion.
• Call-and-response vocals, horn riffs, and a strong dance feel.

Dance

• The songo dance is freer than older Cuban dances.
• Features hip movements and steps influenced by rumba and son but looser, designed for the groove-heavy feel of the music.

Influence

• Laid the foundation for timba, the dominant Cuban dance music style from the 1990s onward.
• Influenced salsa, jazz fusion, and contemporary Afro-Latin music worldwide.