Orquesta Akokán

"From the opening notes of "Mambo Rapidito," the first single and opening track from Orquesta Akokán's self-titled debut album on Daptone, it's impossible not to move one's feet and hips. An homage to the great mambo music of the '40s and '50s, this 16-piece big band of seasoned Cuban musicians - that includes lead vocalist Jose "Pepito" Gomez and pianist/arranger Michael Eckroth - makes the dancefloor burn. Recorded at Havana's legendary Areito Studios over four days in 2016, this nine-track set offers the same intensity and joy that burst forth from recordings by Arsenio Rodríguez, Benny Moré, Tito Puente, and Perez Prado. It's a welcome return for Daptone, whose roster has suffered heavy losses with the deaths of Dan Klein, Sharon Jones, and Charles Bradley. While this is the label's first Spanish-language album, based on the evidence herein, we can only hope it isn't their last".

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"There's a layer of richness infused into the debut album from Orquesta Akokán that's hard to deny. Akokán, a Yoruba word that means "from the heart," is an apt descriptor for the collective led by Cuban vocalist José "Pepito" Gómez; this collection of original music, recorded over a three-day session in Havana, is equal parts fiery, vibrant and technically sound ... There's a distinct old-world Havana big band feel here, filtered through a postmodern lens. Steered by the vocals of Pepito, piano melodies sparkle, brass blare bold and percussive sounds punctuate a overarching vibe of joy".

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"It seems quite logical that Daptone, that New York City label celebrated for eschewing modern technology in favour of traditional techniques and sounds, should choose Havana as the destination for its first foray away from home. Orquesta Akokan is a newly-assembled supergroup of Cuban musicians, brought together by vocalist José 'Pepito' Gómez and this, their debut album, fits in the Daptone tradition of sounding both vintage and fresh at the same time. Recorded over three days in Havana's legendary state-run Estudios Areito, the album of new, original material harks back to the sounds of pre-revolutionary Cuba, and Mambo kings like Arsenio Rodríguez".

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"Cuban vocalist José "Pepito" Gómez assembled the 16-piece group from musicians based in New York and Havana, including members of Irakere and Los Van Van ... If the devil and God are in the details, this lovingly meticulous session must have reached the ears of Areito's ancestors. Listen for their blessings, caught like everything else here, live to tape".