Results for "Orquesta Akokán"

Orquesta Akokán

Active since: 2016

Orquesta Akokán derives its name from a Yoruba word meaning "from the heart." Across a decade of acclaimed, Havana-recorded releases led by Chulo Records producer Jacob Plasse and pianist-arranger Michael Eckroth, the group has stayed true to that sentiment.

Formed with players from legendary Cuban bands like Los Van Van and Irakere, the ensemble debuted on Daptone Records in 2018, polishing the golden mambo of Pérez Prado and Benny Moré to a 21st-century sheen—earning a Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album. Subsequent releases expanded this vision at Cuba's storied Egrem and Abdala studios: 2021’s 16 Rayos pushed mambo’s hallowed boundaries into avant-garde territory, while 2024’s Caracoles wove Congolese spiritual dialect into groove-saturated rhythms, accumulating Billboard Latin Music, Telemundo, and Songlines awards along the way. 

América!

By Orquesta Akokán

Label: Daptone Records
Released: 2026
Track listing: No Me Voy; Mami Qué Qué; Hace Tiempo; Aprendizaje; Me Tienes Sin Cuidado; Girassol; Nadie Me Toca Igual; Cha Cha Cha Ooh La La.

Jazz Continuum Latin Edition

by David Brown
April 1, 2025

This week, we're featuring the Jazz Continuum Latin Edition. Let's dive into some Latin sounds from NYC, starting with Pete Rodriguez's “I Like It (I Like It Like That)," followed by the Joe Cuba Sextet and Nuyorican percussionist Ray Barretto. We'll also spotlight two albums from this weekend in history: Kenny Dorham's Afro-Cuban (1955) and McCoy ...

Lionel Hampton, Michel Camilo, Marta Sanchez and more

by David Brown
April 30, 2024

Tonight, a pair of tunes from Philly's Brecker Bros.; a Latin jazz set with Michel Camilo, Rachel Therrin, Juan Tizol, Tito Puente and more; all followed by works form James Brandon Lewis' three most recent releases. We'll continue with a birthday set for Lionel Hampton and more. Welcome friends and neighbors to The Jazz Continuum. Old, ...

Orquesta Akokán at San Francisco Jazz Festival

by Harry S. Pariser
July 4, 2019

Orquesta Akokán SFJAZZ San Francisco Jazz Festival San Francisco, CA June 16. 2019 Ever wonder what it was like to hear what it was like to be in a Cuban nightclub in the 1950s? Attending a concert by Havana, Cuba-based Orquesta Akókan is a sure way to experience that energy: ...