Sexteto Yumuri began in 1990 with  a group of experienced musicians.   Their purpose was to provide traditional music for the burgeoning tourist industry and the Hotel Castillo was their first gig.

The members of Sexteto Yumuri are the guardians of such traditional genres as the son, bolero son, danzon, habanera, cha cha, zapateo cubano and guaracha.   They are specialists in music from Baracoa and in addition to their own compositions, provide a showcase for the many composers that live in the area.   The well known songs of Baracoa: Nengon, Kiri-Ba, Aeroplano, Carril, Cabaret, Vale, La Pasion and Bombo Camara are all part of their repertoire.

In Santiago in 1999 and 2000 they were featured in the Festival del Caribe and provided authentic accompaniment for the folkloric dance groups of the Festival.   They play live music for such dances as Parranda, Espirituana, Tonada Camagueyana, Tonada Matancera, Criolla y Changuii.

Sexteto Yumuri pride themselves on being serious musicians with a polished chorus and a high level of technical playing ability.   Within traditional genres, they have developed their own style and individuality.  In fact, in 2002, they won a prize from Cubadisco for their CD: Casa de la Trova, Baracoa.

Based out of Baracoa’s Casa Cultura, they perform principally at the restaurant in the Hotel Castillo and for traditional music programs on the local Radio Emisorra, "Voz de Toa".


Moris Perez Gambon - Director, Singer, Quinto and Requinto.
Moris began his career with Trio Hermanos Perez and performed traditional country music on Sundays for Voz de Toa.  During his time in the military he was stationed in Ethiopia.  There he played with groups performing for the troops and for dignitaries at the Cuban and Soviet Embassies.

Returning to Baracoa, he joined Conjunto Guama.  This group performed on such national programs as Palmas y Canas, Rumores de la Campina and provided accompaniment for improvisational poets and soloists such as Celina Gonzalez.  In 1987, along with other professional musicians and teachers of culture, he formed a part of a multi-dimensional troupe called Brigade of 20 Years.  With this ensemble he traveled from Maisi, the eastern most point of Cuba, to Guantanamo, Granma (La Cucalambiana), Holguin, Santo Espirito (Feria del Arte Popular) and other locations in Cuba.

With the advent of international tourism, Moris was given the task of putting together the group Sexteto Yumuri in order to showcase Eastern Cuban music and culture.  You can find him performing with his group principally at the Hotel Castillo.

In addition, he is also qualified as a guitar teacher after attending the music school, Miguel de Cervantes.

Moris and Pablo, a local poet, have put together a music school for children in order to teach them Controversia, a form of improvisational Cuban rap combining poetry and traditional music. He is a man of many talents.

Rodriguez Machado - Singer, maracas.
Along with Moris, Aristides began his musical career with the Trio Hermanos Perez and they toured with this group for 5 years around Guantanamo province.

In addition, as a soloist he participated in a festival entitled “All the World Sings” which was in Holguin.  In 1985 he joined the group Conjunto Guama and has participated in 5 “Palmas y Canas” (a national program featuring music of the country).

Another unique event was the Brigade of 20 Years in which a group of professional musicians and other artists traveled and performed from Maisi, the easternmost point of Cuba to Espiritu Santos.  This was under the auspices of the dictator Trujillo.  Aristides is one of the original founding members of Sexteto Yumuri and has been performing with them since 1990.

Pastor Fernandez Soa - Singer, percussion.
Born and raised outside of Baracoa in the Playita neighbourhood, Pastor started on his musical path at the age of 10.   He would sing at various activities in Playita and by necessity had to make his own rustic musical instruments.

At the age of 17 he formed a part of Los Huracanes which continues to this day.

In 1976, Pastor got the opportunity to participate in a competition at the Theatre of the East in Santiago where he won 1st prize in the aficionado or amateur category.   The following year he became a professional and joined the group Juvenil de ’70 and later integrated into Orquesta Baracoa.

Today you will find him a part of Sexteto Yumuri, Los Huracanes and Conjunto Guama.


Eduardo Cuba Pinon - Guitar and singer.
Eduardo grew up in the country and remembers as a young boy visiting with his father the group of traditional musicians and dancers, Kiri-Ba Nengon.   This traditional group inspired him to be a musician.

Moving to Baracoa at the age of 18, he began to perform as a soloist.   The next step was with a group called Camino Alegre.   In 1973, he joined the group Cacique Guama as a professional singer and guitarist and at that time began to compose some of his own songs.   He used traditional genres such as bolero and guaracha.

1976 saw him joining Sexteto Yumuri where he expanded his repertoire to include a wider variety of musical genres.   In addition, Eduardo created a traditional folkloric music and dance troupe and provided the accompaniment for such dances as Nengon, Kiri-Ba, Pregon, Carril, Aeroplano and Pasion.

In music school he attained an intermediate level of certification and with his knowledge of musical theory, he continues to write original arrangements for the Tres.


Roberto Toirac Hernandez - Bass.
Roberto started his musical career path in the army, officially named the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionario.

After returning to Baracoa, in 1972 he was a founding member, director and tres player of Maravilla Yunquena.   In 1985 he moved on to play with a traditional country music group as tercero and it was there that he learned to play the bass.  He graduated from music school.  He currently plays with both the Sexteto Yumuri and Maravilla Yunquena.


Walfrido Solero Solet - Singer and percussion.
Walfrido has spent time in many local musical groups such as Armonicos, Sol de Oriente, Huracanes, Nueva Trova, Banda Musical, La Brigada 467 Aniversario, Conjunto Guama, and his final group, Sexteto Yumuri.

He has attained the highest level of certification possible in the category of percussion.  In his twenty years as a percussionist, he has won many awards, the most important of which is the Raul Gomez Garcia prize.  As a member of the Literary Workshop of Baracoa, he has participated in many of their conferences and activities.  Walfrido has godfathered various groups in town, including Bara-rumba and Nueva Trova.  In return, they have performed some of his original compositions.


Musical Repertoire