16 Rayos Orquesta Akokán SKU: DAP-064LP Barcode: 823134006416 19.00 £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Daptone Released Date: 22nd October 2021 Buying Format: 1LP Out of stock Back Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info Orquesta Akokán is ready to unleash 16 Rayos on the world’s dance floors, via Daptone Records. Recorded in Havana’s famed Egrem Studios, the group displays a cohesion forged by an intense performing and touring cycle. The musical conversation that began in the Areito studios three years earlier blossomed into an easy, intimate dialogue between good friends – allowing full, fearless musical expression and risk-taking outside of their comfort zones. Building upon Perez Prado’s dissonant, near avant-garde vision of the mambo, and highlighting the Lucumí subtext of Cuban rhythms and styles, the band continues to explore, develop and expand the island’s rich rhythmic palette and repertoire – pushing the conventions of what is considered “mambo” – and drawing deeply from folkloric and religious traditions seldom heard in popular music. 16 Rayos is here to shine its musical rays on us, warm our hearts, and irresistibly move our bodies. When Orquesta Akokán burst onto the global music scene a mere three years ago, their no-holds-barred 21st century take on the venerable Cuban mambo lit up stages around the world with a fierce and unremitting joy. Singer José “Pepito” Gómez, Chulo Records producer and multi instrumentalist Jacob Plasse, and arranger Michael Eckroth joined forces with a carefully curated selection of Havana’s most extraordinary musicians as Orquesta Akokán, polishing Cuban mambo’s golden sound to a luminous, contemporary sheen. Along the way Orquesta Akokán imbued these legendary Cuban grooves with a renewed vitality and powerful sense of akokán —the Yoruba word used by Cubans to mean “from the heart” or “soul.” On the Cuban side of the equation the Orquesta boasts some of the island’s greatest instrumentalists culled from members of near-mythical groups such as Los Van Van, NG La Banda, and Irakere (notably César Lopez, Orquesta Akokan’s point man in Havana). The ensemble for 16 Rayos shines a light on Cuba’s musical families and multigenerational legacy with the participation of two fabled Vizcainos on percussion – Roberto “Tato” Vizcaino Jr. and his father Roberto Vizcaino Guillot, a member of Chucho Valdes’ seminal 90’s quartet. Another family duo added their masterful legacy to the recording, with trumpeter Reinaldo “Molote” Melián bringing in his son, Reinaldo Melián Zamora, to play trumpet on several tunes alongside lead trumpet Harold Madrigal Frías. The winds and brass are rounded out with a rich saxophone section made up of young lion Jamil Shery and Germán Velazco (musical director for Pablo Milanés)on tenor, with Evaristo Denis on baritone and César López on alto, along with Yoandy Argudin and Heikel Fabián Trimiño on trombone. Coros were sung by Eddie Venegas and Luis Soto. Significantly, Orquesta Akokán added strings to the ensemble for the first time, with the participation of violinists Amelia Febles Díaz, Jenny Peña and Anabel Estévez Acosta, whose virtuosity stems from the classical training for which Cuban musicians are so renowned. The power and grace of Pedro “Tata” Francisco Almeida Barriel’s vocals lead the way on “4 de Octubre” and “Llegue con mi Rumba,” evincing why he is considered one of the Cuban rumba’s premier exponents. Another highly recognized singer, legendary guarachera Xiomara Valdés – who’s shared the stage with legends such as Beny Moré and Omara Portuondo and received the Ministry of Culture’s Distinción por la Cultura Nacional de Cuba as a significant contributor to Cuba’s musical legacy – is the featured guest on the title track. “Buena Vista’s better-looking little brother” – ★★★★★ Record Collector “Their self-titled debut recreates the carnival, colour and spectacle of ’40s and ’50s Cuban dance band era” – ★★★★ MOJO “Enough energy is generated in the opener, Mambo Rapidito, to keep the lights in Havana burning for a week” – The Sunday Times “the sharp-suit Saturday night to Buena Vista Social Club’s Sunday morning.” – 8/10 Uncut “A must hear item for all switched on aficionados of Latin music” – ★★★★ Shindig! ‘A life-affirming revisitation of 1950’s pre revolution Cuban cool..a shimmering gem’ Orquesta Akokan – Songlines – Music Awards – May 2019 Artist Orquesta Akokán Genre World / Fusion Label Daptone Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings Mi Conga Es De Akokán 4 De Octubre La Guajira Del Mar Interludio No 1 El Inflador Fiebre Del Mambo Orchídea Interludio No 2 Llegue Con Mi Rumba 16 Rayos Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Orquesta Akokán and more from World / Fusion View Product Quick View Orquesta Akokán Orquesta Akokán World / Fusion | Daptone | 1LP Released 5th April 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Orquesta Akokán Orquesta Akokán £19.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Daptone SKU: DAP-052LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 5th April 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Miltinho Miltinho E Samba World / Fusion | Doxy | 1LP, Includes CD Released 17th June 2014 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Miltinho Miltinho E Samba £20.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Doxy SKU: DOK227 Formats: 1LP, Includes CD Released Date: 17th June 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Fania All Stars Live at The Cheetah World / Fusion | Concord | 1LP Released 21st October 2022 £30.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fania All Stars Live at The Cheetah £30.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Concord SKU: 7242602 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 21st October 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Various Artists The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia World / Fusion | World Music Network | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 15th April 2016 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia £14.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: World Music Network SKU: RGNET1337LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 15th April 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Nearly New View Product Quick View Gipsy Kings Mosaïque Rock And Pop | Elektra Musician | 1LP Released 7th February 2023 £12.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Gipsy Kings Mosaïque £12.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Elektra Musician SKU: nn257503 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 7th February 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Various Artists The Rough Guide to Voodoo World / Fusion | World Music Network | 180g, 1LP Released 5th May 2014 £11.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Various Artists The Rough Guide to Voodoo £11.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: World Music Network SKU: RGNET1275LP Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th May 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Fela Kuti He Miss Road World / Fusion | Knitting Factory | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 27th August 2014 £15.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Fela Kuti He Miss Road £15.00 Genre: World / Fusion Label: Knitting Factory SKU: KFR20161 Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 27th August 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Tamino Every Dawn’s A Mountain World / Fusion | Communion | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released 21st March 2025 £21.00 - 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