Tue Oct 6
Perkutao
9:30PM / $30 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
Percy Chinchilla and Perkutao Afro-Peruvian Jazz
Afro-Peruvian Jazz
Perkutao is a dynamic Afro-Peruvian ensemble founded in 2005 by renowned percussionist, dancer, and educator Percy Chinchilla, alongside percussionist Robin Axel. The group recently relocated from Lima, Peru to the Washington, D.C. area and has exploded on the jazz scene, being featured at clubs such as Blues Alley and Mr. Henry’s. Perkutao’s debut album, Mis Ancestros (“My Ancestors”), produced by acclaimed percussionist Manongo Mujica, is the fourth installment in the celebrated Perspectivas de la Música Afroperuana (Perspectives on Afro-Peruvian Music) series.
Rooted in the rich rhythms of Afro-Peruvian tradition, Perkutao blends Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, and jazz influences, creating a powerful expression of African diasporic culture. The ensemble has toured internationally, captivating audiences with its fusion of traditional sounds and contemporary global music. In 2022, Perkutao joined the legendary Cuban group, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, to celebrate their 70th anniversary in Matanzas, Cuba. Perkutao has performed numerous times at the National Theater of Peru, including in 2023 to celebrate World Folkore Day. Most recently, Perkutao performed to a near-capacity audience at Blues Alley—one of the most important jazz clubs in the United States—kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month and the Peruvian Jazz Series.
Percy Chinchilla is recognized as one of the world’s foremost practitioners of Afro-Peruvian music and dance. Born and raised in Lima’s culturally vibrant Callejón del Buque in the La Victoria district, he comes from a legendary lineage that includes Afro-Peruvian icons Caitro Soto and Ronaldo Campos. Immersed in this heritage from an early age, Chinchilla won the prestigious Valentina de Oro dance competition at just six years old. By 15, he had earned national acclaim as the winner of Peru’s National Cajón Championship. A former member of the acclaimed ensemble Perú Negro, Chinchilla has performed worldwide with Perkutao and alongside leading figures in Peruvian music such as Eva Ayllón, Cecilia Barraza, and Afroperú. Chinchilla is proudly endorsed by A Tempo Percussion and continues to inspire new generations of percussionists and dancers in Peru and abroad.
Robin Axel is a percussionist and composer who has performed Afro-Peruvian and jazz music professionally for more than 20 years across the U.S. and Asia. He was a core member for 10 years of Nori Company, the East Coast’s premier traditional Korean drumming and dance ensemble based out of New York before relocating to the Washington, D.C. area. He most recently composed for the acclaimed dance performance Untethered and Unseen: The Mysterious Life of Hilma af Klint. He studied musical performance, composition, and ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, and has toured internationally, performing world music traditions from Peru, Cuba, and Korea.
Co-Presented with the Embassy of Peru
9:30PM / $30 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.