Orquesta Akokán

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 stays true to that sentiment.

Formed with a brilliant cross-section of 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. 

Co-Presented with the Embassy of Cuba