Ricky Castillo & Havana Nights
Solo Guitar - English & American Classics - Ricky Castillo
Solo Guitar - Timeless Latin Classics - Ricky Castillo
Dúo Cuban Music | Ricky Castillo
Latin Jazz Duo Ricky Castillo | Ricky Castillo
Ricky Castillo's Duo
"Dos Gardenias" - Ricky Castillo & Mayda Cuellar | Victor's Cafe NYC
Ricky Castillo's Duo (Feat Mayda Cuellar )
Ricky Castillo Trio - Live
Bossa Habanera - Ricky Castillo (Habana 500)
Allí donde tu sabes - Ricky Castillo (Habana 500)
Guagua cuban festival | Ricky Castillo
Havana Nights - Traditional Cuban Music
Havana Nights - Traditional Cuban Music
Habana 500 release concert
Ricky Castillo Latin Jazz Trio
Performance at NYC Sing For Hope
Ricky Castillo Duo
Ricky Castillo Duo
Performance at Times Square NYC
Overview
Cuban-born guitarist Ricky Castillo leads Havana Nights, bringing authentic Cuban and Latin music to weddings, private events, hotels, restaurants, and corporate gatherings across South Florida. Based in Boca Raton, the group performs Cuban son, boleros, Latin jazz, bossa nova, salsa, and Latin arrangements of popular songs, available as solo, duo, trio, quartet, or full band.
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Price range: Starts at $450
Languages: English, Spanish
Gig length: 30 - 300 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - COI
What to expect
Audiences can expect an authentic, elegant, and energetic Latin music experience tailored to the atmosphere of each event. Ricky Castillo & Havana Nights performs a mix of traditional Cuban music, Latin jazz, boleros, bossa nova, salsa, and Latin interpretations of well-known classics.
We can create anything from a sophisticated background-music setting for cocktails, dinners, hotels, and corporate events to a more lively performance for weddings, private parties, and celebrations. Our repertoire includes favorites such as “Chan Chan,” “Dos Gardenias,” “Guantanamera,” “Bésame Mucho,” “Oye Como Va,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Blue Bossa,” and many more.
The group is available in flexible configurations including solo guitar, duo, trio, quartet, and full band, allowing us to adapt to the size, style, and budget of your event. We arrive professionally prepared and focus on creating a warm, polished performance that complements the occasion without overpowering it.
Whether you are looking for the atmosphere of Old Havana, a romantic Latin setting, or an upbeat Cuban celebration, our goal is to make the music feel like a natural and memorable part of your event.
About
Ricky Castillo & Havana Nights brings the warmth, elegance, and energy of Cuban and Latin music to private events, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and corporate gatherings. Led by Cuban guitarist Ricky Castillo, the group recently relocated from New York City to Boca Raton after years of performing throughout NYC, including appearances at Victor’s Café in Manhattan.
Ricky also studied with legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino, an influence that helped shape his approach to improvisation, harmony, and performance.
Our repertoire blends traditional Cuban music, Latin jazz, boleros, bossa nova, salsa, and Latin interpretations of familiar classics. Clients can expect music in the spirit of Buena Vista Social Club, along with songs such as “Chan Chan,” “Dos Gardenias,” “El Cuarto de Tula,” “Guantanamera,” “Bésame Mucho,” “Oye Como Va,” “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Blue Bossa,” and many other Latin favorites.
Additional booking notes
Our technical requirements are simple and vary depending on the size of the group. We generally need access to a standard electrical outlet near the performance area, adequate space for the musicians and equipment, and either bar-height stools or armless chairs for the performers.
For outdoor events, the performance area must be dry, level, and protected from rain and direct exposure to the elements. For larger configurations such as trio, quartet, or full band, additional performance space and power may be required.
If the venue provides a house sound system, we are happy to coordinate with the venue or sound technician in advance. We also appreciate reasonable access to the performance area for load-in and setup.
We keep our setup efficient and will confirm any specific technical needs with the client or venue before the event.
Past booked events
October 2023
05
Thursday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
New York City, NY
September 2023
14
Thursday
Corporate Event
5:00pm - 6:30pm
•
New York City, NY
August 2023
12
Saturday
Birthday Party
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Melville, NY
06
Sunday
Festival
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Hampton Bays, NY
Team
Set list
CUBAN & LATIN
Chan Chan — Compay Segundo
Dos Gardenias — Isolina Carrillo
El Cuarto de Tula — Sergio Siaba
Guantanamera — Joseíto Fernández / José Martí
El Manisero — Moisés Simons
El Carretero — Guillermo Portabales
Échale Salsita — Ignacio Piñeiro
Son de la Loma — Miguel Matamoros
La Mujer de Antonio — Miguel Matamoros
María Cristina — Ñico Saquito
Dile a Catalina — Arsenio Rodríguez
Pare Cochero — Marcelino Guerra
La Negra Tomasa — Guillermo Rodríguez Fiffe
De Camino a la Vereda — Ibrahim Ferrer
El Yerberito — Celia Cruz (popularized)
Punto Cubano — Traditional
Ahora Sí Tengo la Llave — Habana Abierta
Son al Son — César Portillo de la Luz
Calle Tacón — Ricky Castillo
Reina de los Mares — Ricky Castillo
Hace Calor en La Habana — Habana Abierta
La Natilla — Habana Abierta
BOLEROS & ROMANTIC LATIN
Bésame Mucho — Consuelo Velázquez
Quizás, Quizás, Quizás — Osvaldo Farrés
Sabor a Mí — Álvaro Carrillo
Historia de un Amor — Carlos Eleta Almarán
Contigo en la Distancia — César Portillo de la Luz
La Gloria Eres Tú — José Antonio Méndez
Tú Mi Delirio — César Portillo de la Luz
Inolvidable — Julio Gutiérrez
Piel Canela — Bobby Capó
Obsesión — Pedro Flores
Lágrimas Negras — Miguel Matamoros
Veinte Años — María Teresa Vera / Guillermina Aramburu
La Última Noche — Bobby Capó
Noche de Ronda — Agustín Lara
Y He Perdido Contigo — Pedro Flores
Quiéreme Mucho — Gonzalo Roig / Agustín Rodríguez
Si Me Comprendieras — José Antonio Méndez
Como Fue — Ernesto Duarte Brito
Capullito de Alelí — Rafael Hernández
Fiebre de Ti — Benny Moré
Te Quedarás — Benny Moré
Si Llego a Besarte — Luis Casas Romero
Palabras — Marta Valdés
Allí Donde Tú Sabes — Luis Marquetti
Deuda — Luis Marquetti
Idilio — Alberto Vera
Belleza — Descemer Bueno
Ciego Amor — Descemer Bueno
Sé Feliz — Descemer Bueno
BOSSA NOVA & BRAZILIAN
The Girl from Ipanema / La Chica de Ipanema — Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Wave — Antônio Carlos Jobim
Corcovado — Antônio Carlos Jobim
Desafinado — Antônio Carlos Jobim / Newton Mendonça
Chega de Saudade — Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
One Note Samba — Antônio Carlos Jobim / Newton Mendonça
Triste — Antônio Carlos Jobim
Águas de Março — Antônio Carlos Jobim
Black Orpheus (Manhã de Carnaval) — Luiz Bonfá / Antônio Maria
LATIN JAZZ & JAZZ
Afro Blue — Mongo Santamaría
Manteca — Dizzy Gillespie / Chano Pozo / Gil Fuller
Tin Tin Deo — Chano Pozo / Gil Fuller / Dizzy Gillespie
Blue Bossa — Kenny Dorham
Song for My Father — Horace Silver
Road Song — Wes Montgomery
Watermelon Man — Herbie Hancock
Cantaloupe Island — Herbie Hancock
Mambo Influenciado — Chucho Valdés
Recorda Me — Joe Henderson
Spain — Chick Corea
Armando's Rhumba — Chick Corea
Nica's Dream — Horace Silver
Con Alma — Dizzy Gillespie
A Night in Tunisia — Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
Caravan — Juan Tizol / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
My Funny Valentine — Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart
St. Thomas — Sonny Rollins
El Mar — Ricky Castillo
Todo Me Lleva a Ti — Ricky Castillo
Vez — Ricky Castillo
Luna — Ricky Castillo
Bruma — Ricky Castillo
Era Ella — Ricky Castillo
SALSA, CHA-CHA-CHÁ & LATIN FAVORITES
Oye Como Va — Tito Puente
Yo Soy el Cantante — Tite Curet Alonso
Llorarás — Oscar D'León
El Bodeguero — Richard Egües
La Engañadora — Enrique Jorrín
Moliendo Café — José Manzo Perroni / Hugo Blanco
Caballo Viejo — Simón Díaz
El Carnaval — Celia Cruz (popularized)
Qué Manera de Quererte — Alberto Tosca
Hoy Mi Habana — José Antonio Quesada
La Música — Haydée Milanés
Juana — Kelvis Ochoa
El Bufón y el Trágico — David Torrens
Si Tú No Quieres — Habana Abierta
Tú Me Amas — Habana Abierta
Tú y Yo — Haydée Milanés
Tan Natural — Ricky Castillo
Flor Pálida — Polo Montañez
Mis Sentimientos — Los Zafiros
Negra Sálvame — William Vivanco
Añorado Encuentro — Giraldo Piloto / Alberto Vera
Tuyo — Rodrigo Amarante
Costumbres — Juan Gabriel
Yolanda — Pablo Milanés
Niebla del Riachuelo — Juan Carlos Cobián / Enrique Cadícamo
JUAN LUIS GUERRA
Bachata Rosa — Juan Luis Guerra
Bachata en Fukuoka — Juan Luis Guerra
Frío Frío — Juan Luis Guerra
Mi Bendición — Juan Luis Guerra
Ojalá Que Llueva Café — Juan Luis Guerra
ENGLISH & CONTEMPORARY FAVORITES
Killing Me Softly — Charles Fox / Norman Gimbel
Englishman in New York — Sting
Fragilidad — Sting
Shape of My Heart — Sting / Dominic Miller
Clocks — Coldplay
Back to Black — Amy Winehouse / Mark Ronson
And I Love Her — John Lennon / Paul McCartney
I Shot the Sheriff — Bob Marley
Layla — Eric Clapton / Jim Gordon
The Sweetest Taboo — Sade Adu / Martin Ditcham
Just the Two of Us — Bill Withers / William Salter / Ralph MacDonald
Ain't No Sunshine — Bill Withers
LATIN ROCK
Corazón Espinado — Fher Olvera / Santana
Mariposa Traicionera — Fher Olvera
Influences and inspiration
My musical influences come from both Cuban and Latin traditions as well as jazz. Buena Vista Social Club, Irakere, Celia Cruz, and Armando Manzanero have all shaped my appreciation for Cuban music, bolero, rhythm, and melody.
As a guitarist, I have also been strongly influenced by jazz guitarists such as George Benson and Pat Martino. I had the privilege of studying with Pat Martino, and his approach to improvisation, harmony, and the guitar had an important influence on my development as a musician.
These influences come together in the sound of Ricky Castillo & Havana Nights, blending traditional Cuban music, Latin jazz, boleros, bossa nova, and jazz guitar.
Setup requirements
Standard electrical outlet near the performance area
Bar-height stools or armless chairs for performers (Soloist or Duo)
Flat, dry performance area
Covered/protected performance area for outdoor events
Reasonable access for load-in and setup
Access to house PA/sound system if provided by the venue
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Latin Band