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DJ Betto Arcos Shares Essential Songs From His Travels In Cuba The globetrotting DJ returns to weekends on All Things Considered with several tracks that represent Cuba's current musical landscape.

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DJ Betto Arcos Shares Essential Songs From His Travels In Cuba

Heard on All Things Considered

DJ Betto Arcos Shares Essential Songs From His Travels In Cuba

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Cuban drummer Yissy García is one of Betto Arcos' travel finds. Larisa López/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Larisa López/Courtesy of the artist

Cuban drummer Yissy García is one of Betto Arcos' travel finds.

Larisa López/Courtesy of the artist

To prepare for his appearances on weekends on All Things Considered, DJ Betto Arcos travels the world looking for new music to bring back to our studios. This time, he shares several songs from his recent trip to Cuba.

Betto says the island nation might not have been prepared for the massive numbers of American tourists who've visited since the Obama administration announced a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations in 2014. "Yet it's prepared in its vibrancy and its excitement," he says. "And music and food are two elements that are absolutely essential to visiting Cuba."

Hear the conversation at the audio link, and listen to Betto's picks below.

Hear The Tracks

Pancho Amat
Alejandro Reyes/Courtesy of the artist

01Una Vasca En Camaguey

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/521075945/521283039" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Pancho Amat

  • Song: Una Vasca En Camaguey
Roly Berrío
AM-PM/Courtesy of the artist

13La Jicotea

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/521075945/521284986" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Roly Berrío

  • Song: La Jicotea
Yissy Garcia
Larisa López/Courtesy of the artist

01Te Cogió Lo Que Anda

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/521075945/521286184" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Yissy García

  • Song: Te Cogió Lo Que Anda
DJ Jigüe
Elvis Suarez/Courtesy of the artist

01Como La Yema Del Huevo

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/521075945/521286981" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

DJ Jigüe

  • Song: Como La Yema Del Huevo