A descarga is an improvised jam session consisting of variations on Cuban music themes, sometimes incorporating elements from other Latin American traditions. Since the 1950s, descargas have enjoyed great popularity in the Latin music community, with many musicians and ensembles attaining international fame due to their descarga performances. This list compiles musicians which are widely considered to have become notable, at least in part, due to their descargas.[1] [2] [3]
| Name | Instrument | Additional roles | Years active | Scene | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| data-sort-value="Aguiló, Johnny" | Johnny Aguiló | percussion | director | 2000s | Miami |
| data-sort-value="Aguiló, Rolando" | Rolando Aguiló | trumpet | director | 1950s - 1970s | Havana, New York |
| data-sort-value="Arado, Carlos" | Carlos Arado | trumpet | director | 1950s - 1960s | Havana |
| data-sort-value="Armenteros, Alfredo" | trumpet, flugelhorn | arranger | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Armenteros, Armando" | Armando Armenteros | trumpet | 1950s - 1960s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Barreto, Guillermo" | timbales, drums | director | 1950s - 1990s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Barretto, Ray" | congas | director | 1960s - 2000s | New York | |
| double bass | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana | ||
| double bass | director, arranger | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, Miami, New York | ||
| data-sort-value="Camero, Cándido" | congas | director | 1950s - 2010s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Carcassés, Bobby" | Bobby Carcassés | trumpet, vocals | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana |
| data-sort-value="Carcassés, Roberto" | piano | arranger | 1990s - 2010s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Casteleiro, Yoyo" | Yoyo Casteleiro | piano | director, arranger | 1950s - 1960s | Havana |
| data-sort-value="Chappottín, Félix" | trumpet | director, arranger | 1950s - 1970s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Colón, Willie" | trombone, vocals | director | 1960s - present | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Cuevas, Sal" | double bass | director | 1970s - 2010s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Egües, Richard" | flute | director, arranger | 1950s - 2000s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Escalante, Leopoldo" | Leopoldo "Pucho" Escalante | trombone | director | 1950s - 1990s | Havana |
| data-sort-value="Fajardo, José" | flute | director, arranger | 1950s - 1960s | Havana, Miami, New York | |
| data-sort-value="de la Fé, Alfredo" | violin | director, arranger | 1970s - present | Havana, New York, Bogotá | |
| data-sort-value="Fellove, Francisco" | vocals | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, Mexico City | |
| data-sort-value="González, Nelson" | tres | 1970s - present | New York | ||
| data-sort-value="Gutiérrez, Julio" | piano | director, arranger | 1950s - 1980s | Havana, Miami, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Jiménez, Generoso" | trombone | director, arranger | 1950s - 1960s, 2000s | Havana, Miami | |
| data-sort-value="Kako" | timbales | 1960s - 1970s | New York | ||
| data-sort-value="Legarreta, José" | Félix “Pupi” Legarreta | violin, flute | director, arranger | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, New York |
| data-sort-value="Lopez, Orestes" | piano | 1950s - 1960s | Havana | ||
| data-sort-value="Lozano, Rolando" | Rolando Lozano | flute | director | 1950s - 1970s | Havana, New York, Los Angeles |
| data-sort-value="Lucca, Papo" | piano | arranger | 1960s - 2000s | Ponce | |
| data-sort-value="Márquez, Juanito" | Juanito Márquez | tres | director | 1950s - 1990s | Havana, Madrid, Miami |
| data-sort-value="Marrero, Nicky" | Nicky Marrero | timbales | 1970s - 2000s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Martínez, Osvaldo" | Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martínez | güiro | director | 1960s - 1980s | New York |
| data-sort-value="O'Farrill, Chico" | trumpet | director, arranger | 1950s - 1990s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Pacheco, Johnny" | flute, güiro | director | 1960s - 2000s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Palmieri, Charlie" | piano | director | 1950s - 1980s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Palmieri, Eddie" | piano | director | 1960s - present | New York | |
| piano | director, arranger | 1950s - 1970s | Havana | ||
| data-sort-value="Puente, Tito" | timbales | director | 1950s - 1990s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Reyes, Walfredo de los" | timbales | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, Miami, San Juan | |
| data-sort-value="Rivera, Niño" | tres | director, arranger | 1950s - 1980s | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="D'Rivera, Paquito" | alto saxophone, clarinet | director, arranger | 1970s - 2010s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Rodríguez, Charlie" | Charlie Rodríguez | tres | director | 1970s - 2000s | New York |
| data-sort-value="Rodríguez, Alfredo" | piano | director | 1970s - 2000s | Havana, New York, Paris | |
| data-sort-value="Rogers, Barry" | trombone | arranger | 1960s - 1990s | New York | |
| data-sort-value="Sandoval, Arturo" | trumpet | director, arranger | 1970s - 2010s | Havana, Miami | |
| data-sort-value="Santamaría, Mongo" | congas, bongos | director | 1950s - 1990s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Silva, José" | José "Chombo" Silva | tenor saxophone, violin | 1950s - 1990s | Havana, New York | |
| congas | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana | ||
| data-sort-value="Torres, Néstor" | flute | director | 1970s - present | New York, Miami | |
| data-sort-value="Valdés, Alfredo" | Alfredo Valdés Jr. | piano | director, arranger | 1950s - 2000s | New York, Los Angeles |
| data-sort-value="Valdés, Amadito" | timbales | 1960s - 2010s | Havana | ||
| data-sort-value="Valdés, Bebo" | piano | director, arranger | 1950s, 1990s - 2000s | Havana, Stockholm | |
| data-sort-value="Valdés, Carlos" | congas | director | 1950s - 2000s | Havana, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Valdés, Chucho" | piano | director, arranger | 1960s - present | Havana | |
| data-sort-value="Vivar, Alejandro" | Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar | trumpet | 1950s - 1970s | Havana, Miami, New York | |
| data-sort-value="Vivar, Salvador" | Salvador "Bol" Vivar | double bass | 1950s - 1960s | Havana | |