Orquesta Akokán Lights the Torch of Mambo with ‘Caracoles’

When Orquesta Akokán exploded onto the scene in 2018, they didn’t just revive mambo—they redefined it. With Caracoles, their third album, the Havana-based powerhouse doesn’t just pay homage to the mid-century giants like Benny Moré, Perez Prado, and Machito—they channel their spirit and propel it straight into 2024 with electrifying flair.

Recorded at the legendary Abdala Studios in Havana, Caracoles is a triumph of live performance energy and tight musical chemistry. The band’s approach is reverent yet fearless—melding the infectious swing of classic Cuban orchestras with modern bebop improvisations and razor-sharp production. From the first horn blast, it’s clear: this is mambo, but not as your abuela remembers it.

Every track brims with an ecstatic energy that makes it impossible to sit still. The horns lead with blistering precision, crafting vibrant, kinetic lines that harken back to Prado’s heyday but are unmistakably grounded in the now. Tracks unwind like conversations between eras: the ghosts of mambo’s past meeting the bold, brilliant voices of its future.

Jacob Plasse (producer and multi-instrumentalist) and Michael Eckroth (arranger, pianist, and certified Cuban music savant) serve as the guiding architects behind this sonic resurrection. But it’s the ensemble—an all-star cast of Cuba’s most elite players—that breathes unrelenting fire into each note. Frontman Papote Jimenez is a revelation. His voice, equal parts grit and grace, effortlessly fuses Cuban son, Puerto Rican bomba, and Afro-Caribbean soul into a vocal performance that is both rooted and revolutionary.

The percussion section, helmed by Keisel Jimenez and Yuya Rodriguez, lays down rhythm work so intricate and pulsating it borders on hypnotic. Meanwhile, bassist Lino Piquero Bueno provides a grounding thump with jazz finesse and Cuban swagger. The horn section? A volcanic force of nature. Led by sax virtuoso Roman Filiu, every solo crackles with intensity, precision, and heart.

What makes Caracoles so compelling is its duality—it lives in the past while dancing defiantly in the present. It’s a love letter to mambo’s golden age, but it’s also an urgent reminder that this music is alive, evolving, and necessary.

Orquesta Akokán doesn’t just revisit a genre—they expand its edges, reframe its context, and make it thrillingly, vividly alive again. If you haven’t caught them live, consider this your call to action. With upcoming tour stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Fe, New York, and more, there’s no better time to witness the magic firsthand.

With Caracoles, Orquesta Akokán proves they’re not just preserving Cuban music history—they’re making it.

Catch Orquesta Akokán live:

• Mar 29 – United Theater on Broadway, LA
• Apr 2 – Presidio Theatre, SF
• Apr 10 – Lensic PAC, Santa Fe
• Apr 24 – Jimmy’s, Portsmouth
• Apr 25 – Lincoln Center/Atrium, NYC
• Apr 26 – Austin Blues Fest, TX