“Balada Para Trompeta” brings together some of the most influential figures in Cuban music. At its centre is pianist Chucho Valdés, a towering figure in Afro-Cuban jazz whose career spans more than six decades and includes seven GRAMMYs and six Latin GRAMMYs. His contribution here is understated but unmistakable: the arrangement bears his hallmark blend of bolero, jazz, and classical elements, with lyrical piano lines that shape the piece without dominating it.

The melody, composed by the late Lucía Huergo—a pioneering producer and multi-instrumentalist known for her experimental sensibility—serves as the foundation. The lyrics are by vocalist Yudelkys Pérez, who also arranged and produced the track. A deeply expressive yet unshowy singer, Pérez delivers the song with clarity and restraint, drawing on the tradition of Cuban canción while subtly engaging with jazz phrasing. The trumpet, referenced in the title, is not a focal point but a motif: present more in spirit than sound, evoked through phrasing and mood. Around them, the ensemble adds delicate touches: horns and rhythm section stay largely in the margins, enriching rather than leading.

The recording draws on a cross-generational network of musicians and producers. It includes contributions from figures connected to Irakere’s legacy, such as José Carlos Acosta, Julio Padrón, and the late guitarist Carlos Emilio Morales. Production was split between Cuba and Mexico, with sessions overseen by Lucía Huergo and three-time GRAMMY winner Geovanis Alcántara López, and coordinated in Havana by Rafael Pérez. Executive producer Mo Fini helped bring the project to completion. The result is a collaboration built on continuity, care, and mutual respect: a piece that favours intimacy over impact and depth over display.

The single was released on 15 May via Tumi Music