STARS: ORQUESTA AKOKÁN

INSPIRE, ENGAGE & ENERGIZE.

Straight out of Havana, Cuba comes Orquesta Akokán, a blazing ensemble creating deeply soulful mambo reminiscent of Benny Moré, Pérez Prado and banda gigante of the 1940s and ’50s. They polish Cuban mambo’s golden sound to a luminous, contemporary sheen. Along the way, they imbue legendary Cuban grooves with a renewed vitality and powerful sense of akokán, the Yoruba word used by Cubans to mean “from the heart” or “soul.”

Orquesta Akokán kicked off their U.S. debut in the summer of 2018, enthralling audiences with a series of performances that culminated with a sold-out show at the Lincoln Center. This was followed by international touring throughout 2019 and early 2020, nominations for Grammy, Billboard Latin Music and Telemundo Latin American Music awards, and critical acclaim from media around the globe.

Their newest album boasts all original songs recorded at the historic, state-run Estudios Areito with Cuba’s finest players, led by the inimitable and dynamic singer José “Pepito” Gómez. The album was produced by Chulo Records’ Jacob Plasse, and includes fiery arrangements by Michael Eckroth. The ferocious and pedigreed wind and rhythm sections consist of musicians from storied groups such as Irakere, NG La Banda and Los Van Van. Robust, time-tested musical architectures of son cubano and mambo are honored and modernized through a synthesis of the rich compositional styles of Havana, New York and beyond.

Suggested Age Range: 2nd Grade and Above