Pavel Molina Ruiz, a renowned Cuban bass player born in Havana on November 1, 1975, is celebrated for his contributions to Cuban popular music and his mastery of the bass. Trained under distinguished instructors like Orlando "Cachaito" López of Buena Vista Social Club fame, Pavel Molina honed his craft at prestigious music schools such as Fernando Carnicer and Félix Varela. He gained prominence as the bassist for Los Van Van, "El Tren de la Música Cubana," from 2002 to 2012, during which the group earned two Latin Grammy nominations for Chapeando (2005) and La Maquinaria (2012). Driven by a desire to explore his personal style, Pavel Molina departed Los Van Van in 2012 to focus on his solo career, blending elements of timba and songo with a deep commitment to connecting with dancers. In 2014, he released his debut single “Cara de culpable,” followed by the hit “La Conga de Magdalena” in 2015, featuring contributions from Alexander Abreu. His first album, Dale a tu bandera (2016), introduced ten original compositions with arrangements by Pavel Molina and Joaquín Betancourt.
