Alex Cuba has won a slew of Juno awards in Canada, and he's even won a Grammy. That makes him one of the most popular artists to ever find a spot here. I don't mind. What's most impressive about Cuba's 11-album journey is the breadth of ideas that he embraces.

Alex Cuba Índole (Caracol Records)

That continues here with a modest venture into traditional country (as opposed to the variety of folk influences that have always graced his work). Cuba has said that this album is intended to be a mediation on his African roots and what those mean to the music of Latin America. My Spanish is not perfect, but he definitely is wandering down some more contemplative paths here, though there are the usual tropi-pop bangers that leaven the whole.

Cuba's gift is in finding the perfect mix of sounds for whatever song he's writing. There's a bit of cumbia, some salsa and plenty of other Carib/Latin rhythms. Again, all of the parts fit perfectly, and part of that might be Cuba's recent embrace of the Prince principle: Do it all yourself. He does have a few vocal guests, but I believe the music is his alone.

And the music is what shines. Cuba clearly views himself as the sum of all his ancestors, and he does his best to bring as many of them to life as possible. All of that ferment has created a songwriter who has found his full. Don't be afraid to dance.

Jon Worley