A contemporary record, but one with a very timeless vibe – music that seems to evoke a vintage Havana, almost in the years before the revolution – as Orquesta Akokan deliver a wicked mix of percussion, basslines, and horns – all topped with fantastic vocals from Kiko Ruiz and a few other singers! Arrangements are by pianist Michael Eckroth, who's got a nicely bold approach – and the group also features tres from producer Jacob Plasse – but it may well be the strong use of tenor and alto saxes that really send things over the top – cutting a nice edge next to the more familiar trumpets and trombones for such a group, and really opening up the jazzy potential in the music! Ruiz is fantastic too – a hell of a singer with a wickedly fluid, musical vibe – and titles include "Pan Con Tibiri", "La Fiera", "Pregonero", "Dona Felipa", "Flor De Mi Campo", "Con Licencia", and "Suave Suave". CD

A contemporary record, but one with a very timeless vibe – music that seems to evoke a vintage Havana, almost in the years before the revolution – as Orquesta Akokan deliver a wicked mix of percussion, basslines, and horns – all topped with fantastic vocals from Kiko Ruiz and a few other singers! Arrangements are by pianist Michael Eckroth, who's got a nicely bold approach – and the group also features tres from producer Jacob Plasse – but it may well be the strong use of tenor and alto saxes that really send things over the top – cutting a nice edge next to the more familiar trumpets and trombones for such a group, and really opening up the jazzy potential in the music! Ruiz is fantastic too – a hell of a singer with a wickedly fluid, musical vibe – and titles include "Pan Con Tibiri", "La Fiera", "Pregonero", "Dona Felipa", "Flor De Mi Campo", "Con Licencia", and "Suave Suave". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary record, but one with a very timeless vibe – music that seems to evoke a vintage Havana, almost in the years before the revolution – as Orquesta Akokan deliver a wicked mix of percussion, basslines, and horns – all topped with fantastic vocals from Kiko Ruiz and a few other singers! Arrangements are by pianist Michael Eckroth, who's got a nicely bold approach – and the group also features tres from producer Jacob Plasse – but it may well be the strong use of tenor and alto saxes that really send things over the top – cutting a nice edge next to the more familiar trumpets and trombones for such a group, and really opening up the jazzy potential in the music! Ruiz is fantastic too – a hell of a singer with a wickedly fluid, musical vibe – and titles include "Pan Con Tibiri", "La Fiera", "Pregonero", "Dona Felipa", "Flor De Mi Campo", "Con Licencia", and "Suave Suave". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary record, but one that hearkens back to the glory days of the Latin diva albums of the 50s and 60s – wonderfully expressive vocals from Maria Raquel, a singer who makes her debut here, yet somehow feels as if she's been making music for many many years! The arrangements are a nicely updated version of past modes – percussion, strings, and reeds mixed with these beautifully dark-turning strings – arranged by Michael Eckroth of Orquesta Akokan, and with a modern depth that's really wonderful, and not just some sort of retro-styled approach. There's a subtle brilliance going on here that really holds us rapt – as Maria mixes boleros and cumbia numbers, on titles that include "Celos", "Juego De Dolor", "Mirame", "La Reina Del Baile", "Cumbia De La Gaita", "Ya No", "Convesion", and "Cumbia Del Presente". LP, Vinyl record album