Rolando Lara is a percussionist and bandleader who has been performing and advocating for Afro-Cuban music and culture for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he has expanded the vocabulary of the Cuban music scene by arranging and performing a wide range of styles, including Afro-Cuban jazz, timba, rumba, mambo, and pilón. His captivating repertoire traces a musical journey from traditional Cuban roots to contemporary expressions, enabling him to create projects rich in rhythmic diversity, form, and sonic depth.
As the leading percussionist of Raúl Lara y Sus Soneros—nominated at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards—Rolando continues to pursue international collaborations with musicians and artists worldwide, alongside his own creative projects.
Born in the vibrant city of Havana into a family of musicians and dancers, Rolando was immersed in Cuban music from an early age. This constant exposure to the island’s diverse and vivid musical traditions inspired and shaped him, naturally leading him to pursue a life as a musician.
In the early 1990s, Rolando followed in the footsteps of his brother, Raúl Lara, and relocated to Sweden. Together, the Lara brothers have built a strong platform in Scandinavia and developed an impressive and high-quality body of work. During his years in Sweden, Rolando has continued to perform, explore, and expand the Cuban music scene, bringing innovation and diversity to projects such as El Rey Shangó Superior Orchestra, Timba Odara, and Habaneros. He studied at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Rolando has performed on world-renowned stages including Fasching Jazz Club, Nefertiti Jazz Club, Vara Concert Hall, Gothenburg Concert Hall, the Gothenburg Culture Festival, and across major music venues throughout Europe.
As a young boy, Rolando spent Friday afternoons in Havana’s Central Park listening to wind orchestras and big bands perform Cuban styles such as danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá, and bolero. He was especially captivated by the big band format and the subtle, elegant melodies interwoven with Afro-Cuban rhythms.
These early experiences later became the inspiration behind one of the most significant achievements of his career. In response to the gradual disappearance of foundational Cuban genres such as danzón, pilón, and mozambique, Rolando founded El Rey Shangó Superior Orchestra. The project was created to preserve and revitalize these essential rhythms while honoring the heritage and historical depth of Cuban music. El Rey Shangó Superior Orchestra reinvigorates the Afro-Cuban legacy, taking audiences on a musical journey back to its origins.
Today, El Rey Shangó Superior Orchestra stands as a vital project dedicated to preserving and advancing Cuba’s rich musical heritage. This big band orchestra performs outstanding arrangements from the late 19th century onward, presenting works by some of the greatest pioneers of Cuban popular music. Through live performance, the orchestra vividly demonstrates the essence of Cuban music—reflecting the island’s cosmopolitan history, dynamic culture, and deep-rooted tradition of improvisation.
Photographer: Reneé de Càrdenas