MICHAEL MCCLINTOCK & HIS CUBANISMS
Michael McClintock is an internationally recognized musician and educator, celebrated for his genre-defying artistry and for teaching students around the world. A master of the guitar and Cuban Tres, his work blends Jazz, Flamenco, Brazilian, Cuban, Afro-Cuban, and Classical influences into a musical voice uniquely his own.
As co-founder and musical director of Cubanisms, Michael has spent more than a decade deeply immersed in Cuban musical traditions while continuously exploring the connections between different musical cultures and styles.
Cubanisms’ first two albums, Acento Cubano (2017) and Trilingual (2019), are collections of timeless songs creatively arranged by McClintock, blending the traditional sound of the Cuban Tres with global musical influences and a contemporary artistic vision. While Acento Cubano focused more deeply on traditional Cuban music and song forms, Trilingual expanded further into Afro-Cuban rhythms, Jazz harmony, and broader musical exploration. Both albums received critical acclaim in Cuba, Colombia, and the United States.
Acento Cubano was selected among the Top 10 in a New York salsa chart and led to an invitation for Cubanisms to perform at Cuba’s prestigious Jazz Plaza International Festival in 2019.
Trilingual received reviews describing the project as “finally an artist thinking outside of the box” and an “album sui generis” for its distinctive fusion of musical traditions.
Driven by a deep love for musical diversity, Michael continuously explores and blends the soulful sound of the Cuban Tres with the many musical traditions that inspire him. Through this spirit of exploration, Cubanisms has developed a distinctive sound that reflects both respect for tradition and a constant search for new musical possibilities.
Beyond Cubanisms, McClintock has participated in numerous international musical collaborations. Among them is the Jazz album and DVD Nuestra Herencia Musical, filmed and recorded in Cuba by Bis Music with renowned musicians Janio Abreu (Cuba) and Victor Goines (U.S.), where Michael was invited to perform on Cuban Tres. The track featuring McClintock was selected as the official promotional piece for the project and continues to be broadcast on national and international television channels.
He has also been part of other album collaborations, including Sin Fronteras, as a founding member and bass player for The Poor Choices, a honky-tonk folk music band. On this project, the group collaborated extensively with Latin Grammy-winning artist Mireya Ramos, with Michael also contributing musical arrangements for several of the songs.
In parallel, McClintock’s debut solo album, Here and There (2025), presents a bold collection of original compositions shaped by Classical, Jazz, Cuban, and Brazilian traditions. Written and recorded across the United States, Cuba, and France, the album reflects a life lived between cultures. Featuring twelve original tracks performed on four distinct guitars — including the Cuban Tres — the album highlights McClintock’s melodic clarity, harmonic depth, and rhythmic intuition. Praised by critics in Europe and Cuba, Here and There has been described as the work of a “guitar virtuoso” and “a true delight for guitar players far and wide… an album that will make you want to start learning the guitar as soon as you finish soaking in the mastery on display.”
DISCOGRAPHY, all Michael's albums and collaborations HERE
If you are interested in learning Cuban Tres or Guitar, you can explore Michael’s books, courses, and educational material on his website HERE.
REVIEWS
Read all verified Google reviews about our Cuba and France travel services HERE
MORE FROM OUR CUBA TRAVELERS, WITH LOVE
OUR SERVICES
