--- canonical_url: "https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/" title: "Cuban Music — MURAKAMI Label — Japonéson" description: "The records Ryu Murakami produced and released in the 1990s, recording Cuban music through the Período Especial and filling a gap in its history." lang: "en" --- MURAKAMI LABEL · PERÍODO ESPECIAL # Cuban Music The records Ryu Murakami produced and released through the Special Period — and after. In the 1990s, during the _"Período Especial"_ — the most severe era following the collapse of the Soviet Union — Ryu Murakami conducted many recordings and filled a void in Cuban music history. > In 1991, I visited Cuba for the first time. As I kept going back, I realized something. Cuban music is not just "folk music" or "Salsa." It is much more complex and deep. It has a long history and diversity, just like Black music in the US. > > At that time, I was bored with Rock and Jazz, and I only listened to Classical music. But slowly, I became a prisoner of the "magic" of Cuban music. > > It is impossible to explain its charm in one word. First of all, the people there need music. And the level of the musicians is incredibly high. After the revolution, they receive top-level classical education at art schools. Even violinists or saxophonists must play the piano. > > When these high-level musicians play, it creates a "catharsis." Most Japanese people don't have this experience, so it is very hard to explain the charm of Cuban music. I can only say one thing: **"Please, just go and see the stage."** ## 1992 — 2000 - [Nueva Generación](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/nueva-generacion/) — NG La Banda(1992) - [Cabaret Panorámico / Échale Limón](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/cabaret_panoramico/) — NG La Banda(1993) - [Live in Japan](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1993_live_in-japan/) — NG La Banda(1993) - [No Hace Falta Pensar La Muerte](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1993_no-hace-falta/) — Paulo y Su Elite(1993) - [You Don't Know What Love Is](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/you-dont-know-what-love-is/) — Xiomara Laugart(1993) - [Los Van Van 1974](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1994-los-van-van-1974/) — Los Van Van(1994) - [La Bruja](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1995-la-bruja/) — NG La Banda(1994) - ["The Man" who called "TOSCO"](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/the-man-who-called-tosco/) — José Luis Cortés(1994) - [Cuban Canzone](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1995-cuban-canzone/) — Estrellas de Cuba(1995) - [Cuban House Music](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1995-cuban-house-music/) — NG La Banda(1995) - [Cuban Rock Spirit](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1995-cuban-rock-sprit/) — NG La Banda(1995) - [KYOKO Original Sound Track](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/kyoko-01/) — KYOKO OST(1995–1996) - [Historia de un Amor](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1997-historia-de-un-amor/) — Javier Olmo(1996) - [Gentle & Sexy — The Best of Los Van Van](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1997_gentle_and_sexy/) — Los Van Van(1997) - [MURAKAMI's NG La Banda Best](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/1997-ng-la-banda-best/) — NG La Banda(1997) - [Son al Son](https://japoneson.com/en/murakami/music/son-al-son/) — Javier Olmo(1998) ## 2001 — 2011 ![Di Que Piensas](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2007_Di-Que-Piensas.jpg) ### Di Que Piensas Tania Pantoja (2007) ![Piano de Solar](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2007.jpg) ### Piano de Solar Lázaro Valdés (2007) ![BOLERO](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2008_Bolero.jpg) ### BOLERO Lázaro Valdés (2008) ![RCN Salsa Best](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2009_RCN.jpg) ### RCN Salsa Best Ryu's Cuban Night (2009) ![Bésame Mucho](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2009_besame.jpg) ### Bésame Mucho Tania Pantoja (2009) ![AMAPOLA](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2010_amapola.jpg) ### AMAPOLA Tania Pantoja (2010) ![TANIA vs HAILA](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2011_tania_Haila.jpg) ### TANIA vs HAILA Tania Pantoja / Haila Mompié (2011) ![Como Fue](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2011_como-fue.jpg) ### Como Fue Tania Pantoja (2011) ## 2014 · The Final ![Ryu's Cuban Night 20th Anniversary](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2024/01/2014_ryus-cuban.jpg) ### Ryu's Cuban Night 20th Anniversary Various Artists (2014) This year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary, I have invited the early 90s members of "NG La Banda." They are the reason I fell in love with Cuban music. I wanted to bring back that amazing sound. Of course, Tony Calá, the popular singer from their golden age, is coming. Also, as special guests, we have Mayito Rivera, the No.1 male singer from "Los Van Van," and the famous Tania Pantoja. I wanted to make this a special concert that shows my 20 years of producing Cuban music. That is why I brought these incredible artists together on one stage. [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q-I8rTm87A) — Ryū Murakami Jii - oldman