Timba in NYC is Cuban dance music that came off the streets of Havana in the 1970s. In Cuba, Son evolved into Timba. In NYC, it evolved into Salsa. They are different branches of the same root.
Timba adds Funk, Rock, Jazz, and another round of Afro-Cuban percussion influences. It has more bass drum, and bands often use a standard Jazz/Rock drum kit. The clave beat tends to be stronger than in Salsa.
When musicians in Cuba first heard New York Salsa, they wondered why we were still playing their parents’ music from the 1950s.
Los Van Van, Irakere and NG La Banda are influential Timba bands. Several members of these bands live and work in Metropolitan New York City.
NYC Timba Venues
Blue Note in Greenwich Village.
Drom in the East Village.
Mi Salsa Kitchen, Cuban restaurant in the Lower East Side with live music Wed-Sun. 🇨🇺
SOB’s in Hudson Square.
Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens. 🇨🇴
NYC Timba News
Pedrito Martinez is the World’s First-Call Rumbero
BLUE NOTE, Greenwich Village, Manhattan 🇨🇺
OKAN Sings Joyful Afro-Cuban Alternative at Lincoln Center
DAVID RUBENSTEIN ATRIUM at Lincoln Center, Manhattan 🇨🇺
Axel Tosca Trio Featuring Xiomara Laugart Play Cuban Jazz at Zinc Bar
Thursday, September 29, 2022
ZINC BAR
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
🇨🇺
January 2023
Pedrito Martinez and his rumba bring Echoes of Africa to Drom in the East Village on Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $25. 🇨🇺
December 2022
Pedrito Martinez plays a Cuban Rumba and Timba Holiday Show at Drom in Manhattan’s East Village on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 7pm. From $30. 🇨🇺
Pedrito Martinez plays a Cuban rumba and timba Pre-New Year’s Eve Party at Drom in NYC’s East Village on Friday, December 30, 2022 at 9pm. Party starts with a Shani Talmor salsa dance class at 7pm. From $25. 🇨🇺
October 2022
Multi-Grammy winner, Aymée Nuviola, “La Sonera del Mundo,” celebrates the birthday of Celia Cruz “The Queen of Salsa” with Jazz, Timba, Son, Salsa and R&B at the David Rubenstein Atrium in Lincoln Center on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 7:30pm. Free. 🇨🇺
May 2022
Los Van Van featuring Alexander Abreu (Habana D’Primera) play Cuban Timba at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, May 13 at 10pm. From $70. 🇨🇺
February 2022
Trova legend Xiomara Laugart celebrates Mi Salsa Kitchen’s 1st Anniversary with Cuban Timba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Fri, Feb 25 from 9-11pm. 🇨🇺
Combinación de la Habana makes their NYC debut playing Peruvian Timba at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Fri, Feb 18 at 10pm. $65. 🇵🇪
Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Rumba and Timba live at Harlem Stage (with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute) in Manhattanville, Harlem on Fri-Sat, Feb 11-12 at 7:30pm. From $25. 🇨🇺
Juan-Carlos Formell (Los Van Van) and Yambando with special guest Danae Blanco, play Cuban Timba at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Sat, Jan 29 from 9-11:30pm. $15. 🇨🇺
2021
Roman Díaz plays Cuban Rumba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Wednesdays at 8pm. Donation. 🇨🇺
Afro Latin Jazz Alliance Tambor Tuesdays features People of Earth, Mambembe, and Kikiriki Biquey playing Salsa/Timba and Samba/Reggae at Drom in the East Village on Tue, Dec 21 at 8pm (7pm doors). $10. 🇨🇺🇧🇷
Xiomara Laugart sings Cuban Timba at Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Fridays at 8pm. 🇨🇺
Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Timba at Drom in the East Village on Thu, Dec 9 at 8pm (7pm doors). $30. 🇨🇺
Harold López-Nussa, Grégoire Maret, Luques Curtis & Ruy López-Nussa play Cuban Timba at The Blue Note in Greenwich Village, Mon-Wed, Nov 8-10 at 8 & 10:30pm (6 & 10pm doors). From $25. 🇨🇺🇵🇷🇨🇭
Pedrito Martinez plays Cuban Timba at Drom in the East Village on Thu, Oct 28 at 8pm (7pm doors). $30. 🇨🇺
Issac Delgado y La Novena play Cuban Timba at Birdland in Hell’s Kitchen Tue-Sat, Oct 19-23 at 7 & 9:30pm. From $30. 🇨🇺
Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at Cuban Restaurant Mi Salsa Kitchen in the Lower East Side on Sat, Oct 2 at 11pm. 🇨🇺
Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at the Roxy Bar at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca on Sat, Oct 2 from 8-10:30pm. 🇨🇺
Gerardo Contino & Los Habaneros play Cuban Timba at Terraza 7 in Elmhurst, Queens on Fri, Oct 1 at 10:30pm. $10. 🇨🇺