Cuban Roots, Canadian Home: Montuno Cubano Release Salsa and Bolero Son Gems “Tu Arete” and “Bendita Luz”
Montuno Cubano announces the release of two new singles—“Tu Arete” and “Bendita Luz” out now—followed by title cut from their album ‘Frágil de Cristal’ on October 10, 2025. Blending Salsa, Bolero Son, Son Cubano, Guaracha, and Bolero, the album brings Cuba’s most cherished traditions into dialogue with the global stage, reimagined from the group’s new home base in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
At the heart of Montuno Cubano are Cuba-born brothers Jorge Luis Peña Acosta (vocals, requinto, guitar) and Luis Peña Acosta (vocals, guitar, percussion), whose sibling harmonies and partnership have become the group’s defining sound. Alongside them, a talented circle of musicians—including Mark Carr-Rollitt (Latin percussion), Christopher Martell (upright bass), Devin Hornby (electric bass), and Sergey Varlamov (keys, violin, bass)—contributed to the studio sessions and select live performances, enriching the recordings with authenticity and depth.
Montuno Cubano’s repertoire spans salsa, guaracha, bolero, rumba flamenca, and son cubano, weaving stories of love, resilience, and cultural memory.
As Jorge explains:
“First I hear the rhythms in my head. If I am excited, I write salsa or guaracha. If I am calm, I write boleros. Rhythm drives the song, but now that I live in Canada, I focus on both the rhythm and the story.”
For new listeners, Salsa is a vibrant Afro-Caribbean dance music style; Bolero Son blends romantic bolero with the rhythmic backbone of Cuban son; Son Cubano is the foundational Cuban genre mixing Spanish guitar with African percussion; Guaracha is a fast-paced, festive style once sung in Havana’s theatres; and Bolero is the quintessential Latin American love song, slow and tender, often poetic in its lyrical expression.
These traditions echo through Montuno Cubano’s new work. In “Tu Arete,” Jorge writes with intimacy: “Hoy sentí envidia de tu arete / Que sin ser tan fuerte a su antojo te tenía”—a meditation on desire and closeness. In “Bendita Luz,” the refrain pleads:
“Bendita luz de la vida, alumbrame mi camino / Apartame to lo malo, que no se metan conmigo,” a spiritual invocation for light and protection. And in the forthcoming title track “Frágil de Cristal,” he sings: “Como yo olvidarte a ti mi amada frágil de cristal / Si eres una mujer hermosa, delicada y muy sensual,” a bolero ode to love and vulnerability.
The songs were recorded over several years at Crabbe Road Productions in Prince Edward Island with producer Sergey Varlamov, whose violin contributions added an international texture to the band’s Cuban foundation. “Although the style of my music is Cuban, with Sergey adding violin my recordings feel more international. It’s amazing to hear how the requinto, violin, and percussion work together,” Jorge reflects.
Bassists Christopher Martell and Devin Hornby alternated across the sessions, while percussionist Mark Carr-Rollitt provided bongos, congas, and claves, ensuring authenticity in every rhythmic layer.
“It is important to understand which percussion instrument is right for each song,” Jorge adds. “Mark understands.”
Montuno Cubano’s music is both an homage to heritage and a contemporary offering. It highlights Cuba’s deep well of musical genres while making them accessible to audiences around the world. For world music enthusiasts, it is a showcase of cultural lineage; for newcomers, it is an introduction to one of the most influential musical traditions. Above all, it is an invitation to feel joy, connection, and rhythm.
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