What was once an isle of forbidden pleasure is now forbidden in a less romantic sense, at least to us U.S. citizens. But the tropical birthplace of so much of the world’s music — mambo and son, sure, but also soukous, salsa, zouk and rock ’n’ roll — hardly languished under our Trading With the Enemy Act.

	Three volumes of Cuba classics cuts through the rhetoric and sabre rattling with unstoppable beats. Silvio Rodriguez, poet and patriot so influential throughout the Americas that some refer to Bob Dylan as “the Silvio Rodriguez of the U.S.” The luscious heat of Cuba's classic dance bands scorches on Cuba Classics 2 and Diablo al Infierno says to hell with salsa, you ain't heard nothin' yet-the Cuban genius for rhythm just keeps on going.
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