The Cuban salsa style that emerged in the 1990s with electric instruments is timba.
Timba developed in Cuba during the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming especially prominent during the country’s “Special Period” economic crisis. It draws on son, rumba, mambo, Afro-Cuban religious rhythms, jazz, funk, and other influences while retaining a strongly dance-oriented foundation.
Electric and modern equipment helped distinguish timba from more traditional Cuban ensembles. Many timba bands incorporated drum kits, synthesizers, multiple keyboards, saxophones, expanded horn sections, and amplified bass. These sounds supported complex arrangements built around abrupt “gear” changes, breaks, improvisation, and shifting rhythmic patterns.
NG La Banda, led by José Luis “El Tosco” Cortés, is often credited as the first major timba band or one of the style’s key creators. Timba is related to salsa but is not simply another name for it: Cuban musicians often emphasize its different orchestration, rhythmic language, cultural setting, and connection to contemporary Havana.