This handsome young man with the weighty name moves through music with ease. He introduces his first tune playing bongos, then his smooth, solid voice flows forth naturally, like breathing. A performing musician from an early age, he is always reading the audience and reacting, inviting them into his sonic world, a world rooted in tradition, strong on Son with old-style boleros and rumbas — sensual, romantic and earthy.

But his sonic space expands into more modern urban sounds, as we hear when guest rapper Freddy Suarez comes on stage for a number. And Ignacio Cervantes, leader of the timba group Chispa y su Complices lays down some funky semi-acoustic bass on “Tu y yo”. He is the only member of tonight’s band still living in Cuba. The other bandmembers for the evening: Orlando Cardoso on piano; Mayito Delmonte drums; Alberto Suarez congas; Alexi Baro trumpet and background vocals and “Pappo” on guiro and background vocals are all originally from Cuba.