Orquesta Akokán
Fusion - Big band
Jose 'Pepito' Gómez (vocals); César López (flute, alto saxophone); Jamil Schery Calderon, Jose Luis Hernandez 'El Chewy' (tenor saxophone); Evaristo Denis (baritone saxophone); Harold Madrigal Frias, Reinaldo Melián (trumpet); Heikel Fabián Trimiño, Yoandy Argudin Ferrer (trombone); Jacob Plasse (Tres); Mike Eckroth (piano); David Faya (bass); Mendoza Valdes, Roberto Vizcaino Torre Jr (percussion).
Fri 12 July 2019 22:45 - 00:00 Hudson
[trans_artistinfo_about]
American producer Jacob Plasse and pianist Michael Eckroth were both so fascinated by old Cuban mambo that they simply looked for an excuse to work with José ‘Pepito’ Gómez. This became Orquesta Akokán, a big band with Havana’s best musicians, both young and old. José ‘Pepito’ Gómez is a prominent interpreter of the genre in Cuba and his musical career is intertwined with important Cuban groups like Irakere, Los Van Van and Buena Vista Social Club. Orquesta Akokán harks back to the mambo and son cubano of the forties and fifties, but played with the aid of modern techniques. Akokán is the Yoruba word that Cubans use for ‘from the heart.’ It’s very significant that this project is released on the Daptone label, that has already modernized so many old soul and gospel sounds, without letting them lose their authenticity.
