The mystique about Cuban music has grown only all the more intriguing to Americans as a result of these political hostilities between the two nations, forcing collectors and record companies to conduct a form of trade under less than ideal circumstances. Somehow, hundreds of compilations of Cuban recordings have managed to make their way to the United States despite the embargo, and by sometimes unknown methods. On the one hand, many of these recordings that come direct from the island have saved American ears from the otherwise monotonous salsa style of the past decade. But it has also confirmed that, despite its ostracism by most of the democratic nations of the world, Cuba continued and continues to educate some of the most talented artists on the entire planet.

Cuban music is arguably the most universal music of all. And by listening to it, by enjoying it, and by dancing to this unique collection of recordings we have compiled for you, we know you'll find the reasons to argue for such a claim. Finally, it is fortunate that, for those of us who love and cherish music down to the most central part of our souls, no barriers whether they be political or economic can ever censor the joy of music, particularly Cuban music.