This is Doris Lavin

Discover the vibrant world of Doris Lavin, a Cuban singer, composer, and performer celebrated for her mastery of traditional Cuban music and Afro-Cuban jazz. Recognized as one of the finest soneras of her generation, Doris blends African and Cuban influences to create an electrifying musical experience, encompassing genres such as Cuban son, salsa, and jazz. Winner of the 2019 MLM Tradiciones Award, her music transcends genres while staying deeply rooted in Cuban heritage.

Her first album, widely acclaimed, is brief but vibrant, showcasing her energy and the variety of Cuban styles in songs like “Ya No Hay Razón” and “Canto a Shangó y Oyá.” Critics have compared her to Celia Cruz and La Lupe, highlighting the richness of her sound.

September 2003
By Christopher Loudon:

Thus far, I’ve known Doris Lavin by reputation only. The Cuban spitfire, who long ago relocated to Italy, has spent much of the past two decades earning kudos for her animated blend of salsa, son and timba. Now, at long last, the Lavin magic has been captured on disc. Her eponymous debut, released on the German-based Cuba Chevere label, is teasingly brief-barely 30 minutes from soaring start to blazing finish. It is, however, a half-hour of unbridled vitality. Sounding an awful lot like a young Celia Cruz, Lavin is a whirlpool of restless energy, slowing down only for the sumptuous, string-heavy “Mi Fiel Trovador.” She embraces six decades of Cuban fury in such explosive compositions as “Ya No Hay Razon” and “Canto a Shango y Oy ,” simultaneously suggesting the sweaty theatricality of Desi Arnaz and fervid majesty of Paquito D’Rivera. Perhaps, though, her cover of Felix Chappottin’s “Sazonando” is most prescient. I’m told that, roughly translated, the title means ‘spicily Cuban.’ Listening to Lavin, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting adjective.

Originally Published September 1, 2003 : Jazztimes

November 2026
The living spirit of Cuban sound

With more than three decades as an independent artist and a distinctive style that has established her as one of the genre’s most iconic female voices, Doris Lavin is writing a new chapter in musical history. Following the success of “A bailar mi Son” alongside the Septeto Matamoros, the singer-songwriter and producer unveils her new single: “Cantar es mi Vida”. Recorded at PM Records studios in Havana, this masterful work brings together three generations of soneros — Doris Lavin, Daniel Vera and Lester Ciarreta — in direct collaboration with Cuban son’s most legendary institution: the Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro, under the direction of Fran Oropesa Fernandez. Inspired by the structure of the celebrated “Guantanamera”, the piece affirms Doris Lavin’s standing not only as an exceptional performer, but also as a true cultural architect who champions her roots with elegance, precision and a contemporary vision.

Originally Published November 11, 2026 : PROMOMUSICBCN