Orquesta Akokán - CANCELED

Orquesta Akokán has canceled their May 15, 2020 performance due to the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall) has approved refunds for this event and refunds will be available at the point of purchase. Please be patient during this time as the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Box Offices are closed until further notice by state mandate.  For patrons that purchased tickets online via Ticketmaster.com, please see Ticketmaster’s COVID-19 Refund Guidelines available at https://blog.ticketmaster.com/guidelines-canceled-postponed-events and please note that Ticketmaster is experiencing longer than normal refund processing times.

“Orquesta Akokán’s self-titled debut album is a loving tribute to the sax and brass-driven orchestras of the past that operated like one giant rhythm machine,” –NPR

“Orquesta Akokán resurrect the thrilling sound of 40’s Cuba with modern singer José Gómez,” –Chicago Reader

Straight out of Havana, Cuba comes Orquesta Akokán – a blazing ensemble of deeply soulful mambo reminiscent of Benny Moré, Pérez Prado, and banda gigante of the 1940’s and 50’s.  The album boasts all original songs recorded at the historic state-run Estudios Areito with Cuba’s finest players, young and old, led by the inimitable and dynamic singer José “Pepito” Gómez, produced by Chulo Records’ Jacob Plasse, with incendiary arrangements by Michael Eckroth. The ferocious and pedigreed wind and rhythm sections consist of musicians from storied groups including Irakere, NG La Banda, and Los Van Van. Robust, time-tested musical architectures of son cubano and mambo are honored and modernized through a synthesis of the rich compositional styles of Havana, New York, and beyond.