Bamboleo

Bamboleo is a Havana-based Cuban salsa and timba band formed in 1995 by keyboardist, arranger, and composer Lázaro Valdés, who drew on a rich musical lineage that included his percussionist grandfather Oscar Valdés and bolero singer Vicentico Valdés. Initially fronted by two female vocalists—Haila Mompié and Vannia Borges—the group burst onto the scene with their debut album Te Gusto O Te Caigo Bien? in 1996, now considered a hallmark of timba brava. Their 1998 follow-up Yo No Me Parezco A Nadie featured collaborations with prominent figures like composer Leonel Limonta and trombonist José Miguel "El Greco" (from NG La Banda), further cementing their reputation for sophisticated, jazz-inflected timba. In 1999, the release of Ya No Hace Falta, with its powerful title track, brought them wider acclaim, including international touring and film placements. They continued their prolific output through the 2000s with albums such as Ñño! Qué Bueno Está (2000), Química de Amor (2002), and El Virus (2005) before venturing into live recordings with Mi Verdad (2006) and En Vivo Galiano at la Casa de la Música (2007). Throughout the 2010s, Valdés and Bamboleo remained at the forefront of the timba scene through releases like ¿Quién Manda? (2010), Todo Lo Que Soy (2011), Pa' Que Bailes (2018), and Chocolate pa mi leche (2023).