Evolving around a group of devoted musicians digging into the son montuno, Papalote’s repertoire draws inspiration from legends like Arsenio Rodriguez.  Papalote explores less common Cuban musical styles like the ‘changüi’ and ‘nengón’, the building blocks of the son tradition. The repertoire of the 5-piece are tight arrangements that feature the innovative distillations of bigger band versions into energetic quintet arrangements, alight with the interplay of drum, tres, piano, horn and bass.

As a quintet Papalote has evolved into a dynamic ensemble. The band features the Spanish 6-string guitar and the Cuban tres guitarra, reminiscent of the master trovadores of eastern Cuba. Augmenting the traditional rhythm section of bongos, bass, and tres guitar, Papalote introduces piano and conga, while flute, clarinet, and saxophone replace the conventional trumpet.

Papalote’s concerts consistently elicit excited responses from audiences. In an environment of shared fundamental rhythms, musicians and dancers converge, fostering a spirit of community and mutual inspiration that defines the very essence of Papalote’s identity.