The repertoire that Las Perlas del son play is classic Cuban son and bolero, the music that from the '20s to the '50s conquered dance halls and theatres all over the world, from La Havana to New York and on to Europe, Africa and even Asia. The son rhythm is arguably one of the most influential in the Caribbean, the backbone of salsa music and now, once again, enjoying international popularity some 50 years after most of the compositions were first created.
Record producer/musicologist Eduardo Llerenas selected this band of seven young women from amongst the many traditional son bands working in Santiago de Cuba for the high musical standard of the individual musicians and the band's overall artistic creativity in its arrangements of the traditional repertoire of son and bolero from Santiago de Cuba.
While the majority of the musicians are self-taught, all were born into the atmosphere of the traditional trova of Santiago de Cuba, the port town where this music was first created in the early years of this century.
Although all in their early 20s, they gained experience in various of the prestigious Santiago son bands, and in the movimiento de aficionados (amateur movement) before coming together as the band Las Perlas del Son in January 1995.
In the extremely competitive environment of a Cuban port-town that continues to be the main source for Cuban son musicians, Las Perlas are outstanding for the freshness of their arrangements, bringing a new and contemporary flavor to the traditional repertoire, for their three-part vocal harmonies and, in addition to being an extremely tight band, for the outstanding solo parts: the lead vocals of Yaqueline Despaigne (who has considerable international experience with other bands), the improvised descarga passages on the bongos and on the tres guitar. As a band, Las Perlas have an excellent stage presence, communicating the spirit of this music beyond barriers of language or culture.
— Courtesy Calabash Music
