Orquesta Akokán Orquesta Akokán: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
Orquesta Akokán
Eblis Alvaraez (Meridian Brothers) and Iván Medellin (Conjunto Media Luna) have one of the albums featured this week. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption
Orquesta Akokán performs onstage at the MIM Music Theater in Phoenix. Emma Barber/Courtesy of the Musical Instrument Museum hide caption
A Mambo Expedition In The Valley Of The Sun
Jazz at Lincoln Center
A Mambo Expedition In The Valley Of The Sun
Clockwise from upper left: Orquesta Akokán, Dakh Daughters, Combo Chimbita, Debashish Bhattacharya, Gato Preto Bob Boilen/for NPR Music hide caption
Vocalist Rosalia earned the Alt.Latino critics' top spot in 2018. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption
ÌFÉ (top) photo by Mariangel Gonzales, DELAPORTE (bottom) photo by Angel Vallejo Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Favorite Albums So Far Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption
The members of Orquesta Akokán hail from both Cuba and the U.S., assembled by vocalist and composer José "Pepito" Gómez. They recorded their debut album live to tape in just three days. Adrien H. Tillmann/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Hayley Kiyoko's debut album Expectations is out now on Atlantic. Amanda Charchian/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Orquesta Akokán's self-titled debut is a loving tribute to the sax and brass-driven orchestras of the past that operated like one giant rhythm machine. Adrien H. Tillman/Courtesy of the artist hide caption