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Where salsa comes from

4.Cousin #1: danzón

Salsa has cousins too: styles that grew up next to son in Cuba. The oldest is danzón. It came from European ballroom dances, mixed with African rhythm, and became Cuba's elegant, orchestra-style dance music.

Danzón is calm and stately. Couples dance close, and the orchestra's flute and violins carry the melody. Later, the fast ending of a danzón grew into mambo.

ListenAlmendraAbelardo Valdés · 1938Abelardo Valdés wrote this danzón in 1938, and it is one of the best-known danzones. Hear the flute and violins over a calm, walking beat.