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Artist Spotlight: Orquesta Akokán

Learn more about new Cuban-American collective that stars some of the island’s top talents and journey to the golden days of mambo and son cubano.

READ:

Read about the group’s origins in New York City, the acoustic magic of Areito Studios, and why recording an album in a Trump-era Havana wasn’t easy.

 

READ: NPR’S FIRST LISTEN

READ: INTERVIEW WITH AKOKAN CO-FOUNDER JACOB PLASSE

READ: ARTICLE ABOUT CUBA’S MUSICAL LEGACY AND AREITO STUDIOS

READ: NY POST INTERVIEW WITH JOSE “PEPITO” GOMEZ

READ: NY TIMES FEATURE ON CUBA AND ITS MUSIC

"We wanted to make sure it was vibrant, a cross section of influence, involving people who were familiar with today's music, but also the old style. There's a lot of younger guys who were students in what is considered to be the Juilliard of Havana. So several of the guys in the band have this natural mentor/mentee relationship. It's a joy to be around. They just really... feel joy when they're performing and it translates with everybody."

Akokán Co-Founder and Producer Jacob Plasse

"It's the kind of deceptively simple complexity that made listening to classic orchestras of Tito Puente, Machito and Perez Prado such a joy. These guys execute it perfectly."

NPR

WATCH:

Performing at Philadelphia’s Nuevofest in October 2018

WATCH:

Official video for “Un Tabaco para Elegua” by Orquesta Akokán

Orquesta Akokán performs at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Saturday November 16th, 2019 at 8pm. Tickets available here.

 

 

Date
Wed Oct 23, 2019
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