NG La Banda [pronounced "enna-hay la banda"] was formed in 1988. Most of the musicians were young graduates of Havana's music conservatory. The group's leader, composer, singer and flute player José Luis Cortés, had worked with both Los Van Van and Irakere, and he wanted the new group to combine the aggressive, street appeal of the former with the jazz sophistication of the latter, what Cortés thought of as "the Cuban music of the future."

NG stood for "new generation," indicating a play for the youth market. Initially, the group's high-minded, composed music failed to connect with the public. But as the sound and repertoire edged back toward the conventions of Cuban dance pop, NG La Banda caught on, and are now seen as having spearheaded the timba movement.

NG La Banda sought to broaden the songo sound of Van Van, the leading dance group at the time. NG's horn section earned particular attention for their tough arrangements and flawless execution. They earned the name "los metales de terror" (the horns of terror). The band's social themes and veiled, but often bold messages have also been part of their appeal. Cortés is sometimes called "el Tosca" ("the coarse one") and his vulgar lyrics have aroused the ire of state censors. The band's first record was Abriendo el siglo (Opening the Century). One of their first big hits was "Echale Limon" (Put a Lemon in it), a Cuban expression referring to what happens when things go wrong. At this point, the band has recorded and participated in some forty albums. Many great careers have been launched from the NG La Banda lineup, including that of perhaps Cuba's most charismatic and popular singer today, Issac Delgado, who left the band in 1991 to begin his mercurial solo career. NG La Banda have continued to develop their sound, most recently bringing in elements of rap music. The band still performs regularly at Havana's Marina Hemmingway, a nightspot that caters to wealthier Cubans and foreign tourists.