Latin Music 101

From salsa’s fiery tones to Cumbia’s enthralling pulse to the tango’s elegant steps, Latin music is every bit as diverse as the Hispanic world itself. Take a cruise into the genre’s inviting ports of call with these high-profile Essentials: the hypnotic “Chan Chan,” composed and performed by Cuban bandleader Compay Segundo (and friends), is a standout on 1997’s incredible revival project Buena Vista Social Club; Montpellier’s Gipsy Kings bring their unique gitano twist to the ’50s Italian pop hit “Volare”; and Medellin’s Juanes bridges the gap between Colombia and his global fanbase with “Me Enamora” from 2007’s GRAMMY®-winning album La Vida . . . Es Un Ratico.

It’s time to venture into less familiar waters, with our Next Steps.

Whether it’s Cuban, Colombian, or Tex-Mex, Latin music is always carried by rhythm. But beyond the beat is the passionate joy and sorrow it expresses, all played out against landscapes as exotic as the beaches of Rio and the deserts of Sonora. Feel the Latin fire in your blood and the heat in your feet with Bogotá’s Aterciopelados, who blend traditional and experimental elements into their captivating mix on “El Estuche” from 1998’s Caribe Atomico, and Puerto Rican reggaeton trailblazers Calle 13, whose Cumbia-channeling, Kill Bill-referencing “Atrévete-te-te” (dig that wild clarinet) was a hit across many Latin territories in 2006.

From Puerto Rican folk to electro-flamenco . . . continue your Latin 101 lesson in Deep Cuts.

Much of the best Latin music remains all but unknown to non-Hispanic listeners, so here’s your chance to get up to speed. Find some of the wide-ranging genre’s best-kept secrets by acquainting yourself with the Dominican Republic’s Amarfis (“El Pollo”), whose red-hot brand of merengue set dance floors alight in Latin clubs the world over, and Puerto Rican folk ensemble Paracumbé, who create something truly magical on “Mamá, Cuídame a Belén.” Italian star Laura Pausini may have already lit up your radar, thanks to a pop-rockin’ hook-up with English singer-songwriter James Blunt (“Primavera In Anticipo”), but only the dedicated Latin aficionado is likely to have savored the electro-flamenco of southern Spain’s Chambao (“Papeles Mojados”).

For all its dazzling range of styles and genres, Latin music has common qualities the whole world can understand, no translation required. Every track here connects directly to the passion and freedom of spirit within all of us, and this must-have playlist of Latin 101 Essentials makes for one sure-fire international party-starter — African rhythms, European melodies, and Amerindian instrumentation all have contributed to Latin music’s richness and complexity. What unites these diverse sounds can be found in the heart and the soul, whether it’s the incendiary acoustic guitar work of Rodrigo y Gabriela, the timeless tango of Carlos Gardel, or the dance-floor dynamite of J-Lo. Sample these classic tracks, discover emotions you never knew existed, and surrender to Latin music’s warm embrace.