Cuban musicians in US hits high note

For so many years, political imperatives in Cuba muted the country's musical voice. Now, however, the country's artists can look forward to an enthusiastic embrace in the United States.

Cucu Diamantes, Cuban singer

Bolero, rumba, salsa, mambo. These are the musical forms in which Cuba excels, but the 1962 U.S. trade embargo suffocated musical connections between the two Cold-War foes. Even until the Bill Clinton administration, it was not even possible to license Cuban music for U.S. distribution.

But with diplomatic relations re-established last month, Cuban musicians - such as band Buena Fe - can enjoy more breathing space and embark on commercial tours in the U.S.

Israel Rojas from "Buena Fe" said:"For the musician's guild, you can imagine that this is an enormous opportunity. This country has extraordinary musicians, fantastic, they have a cultural force. Also, they are not even known yet, legitimately, as a result of this policy of survival, the policy of denial of our musicians to bigger markets where music is distributed as a product. It's an opportunity."

Cuba's national record label, EGREM, has long held a monopoly on Cuban music. Meanwhile, many Cuban musicians have been denied visas to take their music to the U.S.

In 2004, for instance, five Cuban nominees for the U.S. Grammy awards - including the late Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club - were refused entry visas by the Bush administration. Though the group won the award in their category.

"If all U.S. policies towards Cuba start to be more flexible, I think that Cuban artists will have more exposure, for example in the Latin Grammies. We have a large musical platform in Cuba, but we have little presence in the Grammies," said Cucu Diamantes, Cuban singer.

Now, the U.S. - where Cuban-Americans are the third-largest Hispanic group - could become Cuba's most important music market.

Samuel Formell, Orchestral Director for Van Van said:"It's a market which is very important for us. Throughout history, we've known that it's possibly the most important market, but hard to enter because Cuban orchestras have not had an international contract or with a record company like Sony Music or BMG, those that promote."

Though some will fear the impact of U.S.-style commercialism on Cuban music, for most the promise of a new audience outweighs the concerns.