Born in 1985 in Camagüey, Cuba, percussionist, vocalist, and composer Ivan Llanes began his musical training at a young age, graduating in 2004 from the Escuela Profesional de Música José White in his hometown. In 2008, he relocated to Havana, where he joined Ricardo Leiva y Sur Caribe and the Grammy-nominated Orlando "Maraca" Valle y Otra Visión.
Following a U.S. tour with Valle in 2011, Llanes settled in New York to expand his career. He founded the ensemble Ivan Llanes & the Cuban Way in 2013, performing genres ranging from timba, salsa, and bolero to traditional Afro-Cuban jazz. Llanes also collaborated with artists such as Valerie Simpson, Katreese Barnes, Colin Hay, and Arturo O'Farrill.
His discography includes his 2018 single "Ella" and the 2023 single "Respira y Siente". In 2024, Llanes released several singles, including "Habana - New York", "Cubahia", "Soy Yo", and "Solo Para Mirar", alongside his album "La Vida Misma", which explores his signature mixture of timba and Latin jazz.
