Mario y Su Timbeko: Llegó lo que tú esperabas
There is something about watching Mario “Mayito” Salomón behind the timbales that immediately gets your attention. The quality of his playing, his voice and the way he leads the band are impressive on their own, but seeing him bring all three together is something else. Timbeko's arrangements are full of cuts, changes and rhythmic details, yet Mario makes even the most difficult passages feel natural. That was probably what impressed me most when I saw Mario y su Timbeko at Lula Lounge in Toronto on the night of September 19, 2026.
Mario was born in Florida, a municipality in the province of Camagüey, Cuba, and moved to the city of Camagüey when he was six. It was there that he later played with Ritmo Moderno and Maravillas de Florida. His musical formation was largely self-taught, although he credits Fernando Cabrera, former musical director of Maravillas de Florida, with teaching him music theory. He also composed for Asheré and Aché de Cuba.
His musical journey later took him through Egypt, Miami and New York before reaching the San Francisco Bay Area. Along the way, Mario worked in different settings with artists including Herman Olivera, NG2, Frankie Negrón and Héctor Tricoche. He also recorded with Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor at Martin Cohen's Congahead studios and performed under the direction of Chucho Valdés at the SFJAZZ Center.
Mario y su Timbeko first performed live in Oakland in 2018. Timba, songo and rumba are at the heart of the music, but jazz, funk, R&B and gospel also find their way into the sound. The result feels rooted in Cuban music without being limited by it.
“Llegó lo que tú esperabas” is a good example. Written by Mario, the song connects Timbeko's Bay Area home with rumba, timba and songo. Mario recorded the lead vocals, timbales and güiro, with an arrangement by Daymar Calvario and production by Jason Moen.
Mario's work as a composer is also worth exploring. Some of his songs come from situations that are part of everyday life. “Nadie sabe nada,” for example, touches on something familiar: how easily we judge other people's lives without knowing what is behind them. Mario wrote the lyrics and also recorded the lead vocal, timbales and chekeré.
Collaboration has also been part of Timbeko's story. Yordys Larrazábal, from Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, has recorded with the band, while Susel “La China de Cuba” appears on “Dale Pa' Fuera.”
Hats have always been part of Mario’s personal style. Over the years, he has worn everything from caps and Bolshevik-style hats to the small black cloth hat he wore during Timbeko's early days. It was never about creating a character or an image. He simply liked wearing them.
With time, something curious started happening. People would recognize him and come over to say hello: “I know you. I love your music. I recognized you by your hat.” Somehow, without looking for it, the hats had become part of Timbeko too.
Seeing Timbeko live gave me a better sense of the band's music. Beyond the complexity of the arrangements, what comes across is the energy, the musicianship and the strength of the ensemble.
Deep Cuban roots, a powerful band and a sound that is unmistakably Timbeko.
Mario y su Timbeko live at Lula Lounge, Toronto, Sept. 19, 2026
Follow Mario y Su Timbeko on social media!
