Timba y corazón

Released in 2007 by the Spanish label Envidia, Timba y corazón captures the high-energy fusion of traditional Cuban rhythms and contemporary salsa known as timba. Raúl Cabrera and his Havana Power Band were part of a wider wave of Cuban musicians recording in the early 2000s for European markets, where the popularity of the Buena Vista Social Club had sparked a global interest in Cuban music. This album serves as a definitive example of that period's sound, balancing sophisticated horn arrangements with the syncopated, driving basslines that define the genre.

The album reflects the collaborative spirit of the Havana music scene, featuring tight-knit compositions intended for dance floors. The production emphasizes the interplay between the rhythm section and the vocalists, a hallmark of Cabrera’s approach to modernizing classic son cubano tropes. While not a mainstream commercial crossover, the release is well-regarded among aficionados of the genre for its technical proficiency and faithful preservation of the timba style that flourished in Havana during the late 1990s and 2000s.