For as long as I can remember, I've been captivated by the rich interplay between West African Latin music and its counterparts in the Americas, particularly in Cuba. This cross-pollination of styles and rhythms—where ancestral African traditions collided with and transformed the vibrant sounds of Latin America—has produced some of the world's most thrilling and soulful music.
In this medley, I'll take you on a musical journey that blurs the borders between continents. I’ll kick things off with a track steeped in the rhythms of African Latin music and bring it full circle with a powerful Cuban piece, the birthplace of so much of this genre’s evolution. The challenge? You’ll have to guess which side of the Atlantic each selection hails from.
By blending the lines between continents, these tracks will reveal how deeply connected the musical DNA of Africa and the Latin world truly is. Let the music speak, and let it surprise you.
Please enjoy the music I love
Essential Info
Link to my blog supporting this show - https://www.jazzmattersuk.com/blogs/cameroon-to-cuba
Explore my Website and dive into Blogs, interviews Content, Music, Videos and Images - https://www.jazzmattersuk.com
Music free to stream - https://pod.co/nudirections
My Info - https://www.raysinfo.org
All social media links and more – https://www.jazzmattersuk.com/linkhub
Email - [email protected]
Playlist
Pape Fall - African Salsa
Mama Badema Sissoko – Safiatou
Chocolate - Ritmo De Mi Son
Balla Tounkara - Le monde est fou
Tam Tam 2000 - Me vuelvo Guajiro
Ernest Chico Alvarez – Val'Carretero
Gnonnas Pedro - Yiri Yiri Boum
Laba Sosseh - Son Soneate
Manu Dibango - Bessoka Version courte
Sonlokos - Rumba Con Sabor a Melao
Tshala Muana - Lekela Muadi
Monte Adentro - Igualito Que Tu
Le Sahel – Jammo
Alune Wade, Harold L6pez-Nussa – Aminata
Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
Jazz Matters
Jazz Matters is a not-for-profit hobby project that I’m extremely proud of.
It began life in May 2021 as NuDirections, a weekly radio show on a London community station. That spirit of discovery still runs through everything I do.
But today, Jazz Matters has evolved into a global podcast platform for Jazz and World music lovers — reaching over 40,000 open-minded listeners across 57 countries on more than 24 platforms.2025/6 marks a new era. My love of music has always gone beyond Jazz, so I’ve created two distinct but connected spaces here
Jazz Matters: Podcasts, Playlists and Music Videos.
Jazz Lines: Blogs, Interviews, Gallery & Pulse for Who's Shaping the Scene.
I’m also preparing a full digital relaunch from my new studio, from 1st May 2026, then every Jazz Matters podcast, mix, and special will stream exclusively from my website—no third-party platforms and no algorithms. Until then, you can listen here and on 24+ podcast platforms.
Alongside the music, you’ll find in Jazz Lines, my platform for blogs, interviews, gallery, and pulse that links to things that catch my ear and eye. A bold new chapter begins soon. New location. New music player. New studio.
Jazz Matters. Because the music — and everything around it — truly does.
Enjoy the music I love