Habana 500

Habana 500 — Track List

1. Bossa Habanera
2. Allí Donde Tu Sabes
3. Pasos Perdidos
4. Habana 500 (Nostalgia)
5. Reyna de los Mares
6. Marta
7. Camino a Casablanca
8. Hoy Mi Habana
9. Little Wolf (Mika)
10. Aire con Sal

All compositions by Ricky Castillo, except where noted.

Track 2 – “Alli Donde Tu Sabes” (Luis Marquetti)

Track 5 – “Reyna de los Mares” (Mayda Cuellar)

Track 8 – “Hoy Mi Habana” (Jose Antonio Quesada Areu)

HABANA 500 — CREDITS

Release Year:
2019

Artist / Project Role:
Ricky Castillo — Leader, Composer & Guitarist

Album Type:
Debut Album

Genre:
Cuban Music / Latin Jazz / Afro-Cuban Jazz

Description

Habana 500 is the debut album by Cuban guitarist Ricky Castillo, conceived as a musical homage to the city of Havana, the place of his birth.
The album reflects a personal journey through Cuban musical tradition, drawing inspiration from the cultural, historical, and social landscape of the island.

Cuban music has played a foundational role in the development of many musical genres worldwide. Havana—shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, migration, and history—has been a meeting point for diverse musical languages, giving rise to styles such as Latin jazz, mambo, rumba, son, cha-cha-chá, danzón, and salsa. Surrounded by the sea and marked by constant movement, the city exists simultaneously in memory and transformation.

Habana 500 emerges from this environment as an exploration of identity and belonging. When composing and performing this music, Castillo approaches sound as landscape: sea, sand, coral, and wave—each serving as a bridge between past and present, tradition and personal voice. The album does not seek to redefine Cuban music, but rather to honor it, contributing a humble voice to its vast and enduring legacy.

Production & Performance

Performed by:
Ricky Castillo — guitar

Production:
Produced by Ricky Castillo