GRAMMY® Nominated ORQUESTA AKOKAN, hailing from Cuba, have been called “the island’s greatest instrumentalists” by the NEW YORK TIMES who states, “Their music captures the sound of 1940s and ’50s Cuba, when the country was one of the world’s most glamorous destinations and an epicenter of music and culture.” Tickets for ORQUESTA AKOKAN at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Friday April 19 at 7 P.M., as well as the current list of 2024 shows, can be found on Ticketmaster.com and Jimmy’s Online Event Calendar at: http://www.jimmysoncongress.com/events.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club Features GRAMMY® Award Nominated ORQUESTA AKOKAN on Friday April 19 at 7 P.M. Orquesta Akokan burst onto the global music scene 7 years ago and their no-holds-barred 21st century take on the venerable Cuban mambo lit up stages around the world with a fierce and unremitting joy. Orquesta Akokan imbued the legendary Cuban grooves with a renewed vitality and powerful sense of “akokan” – the Yoruba word used by Cubans to mean “from the heart” or “soul.”
“Orquesta Akokan is a joy.”
— NPR
“Even though the contours of the group’s sumptuous brass and reed sections recall the great bands that once ruled the legendary midtown casa del baile the Palladium, its percussion-augmented rhythm section feels supercharged in a remarkably contemporary way.”
— THE NEW YORKER
“The magic of Orquesta Akokan…brilliant music. The band has brought together musicians from two politically divided countries — Cuba and the US — and recreated a golden musical era that fell out of the spotlight more than 50 years ago”.
— POPMATTERS
Orquesta Akokan’s recent album 16 Rayos on Daptone Records, is a triumphant follow up to their GRAMMY® Award Nominated debut album from 2018. Led by dynamic singer Jose “Pepito” Gomez, producer Jacob Plasse and arranger Michael Eckroth, and fused with the “island’s greatest instrumentalists” (New York Times) from storied groups including Irakere, NG La Banda, and Los Van Van, the band united in Havana once again to record at Egrem Studios.
The cohesion forged by several years of international touring by Orquesta Akokan (including stops at Lincoln Center, WOMAD Australia and New Zealand, North Sea Jazz Festival, Festival Salsa al Parque, Kennedy Center and many more) blossomed into an intimate dialogue between good friends, allowing for fearless musical exploration, risk-taking, development and expression. Contemporary sensibilities, mixed with a deep spiritual reservoir and knowledge of folkloric traditions, propel the grooves into previously uncharted vistas while dismantling the conventions of what is considered mambo.
Orquesta Akokan made their U.S. debut in the summer of 2018, enthralling audiences with a series of performances culminating in a sold-out show at Lincoln Center. This was followed by international touring in 2019 and early 2020, a GRAMMY® Award Nomination, and critical acclaim from press and media around the globe.
ORQUESTA AKOKAN Tickets & Current Schedule of Shows
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club’s 2024 Schedule of Shows now includes 5 NEA Jazz Masters, 34 GRAMMY® Award-Winning Artists, 36 Blues Music Award-Winners, and a comprehensive list of talented musicians with 325+ GRAMMY® Award Nominations amongst them. Tickets for ORQUESTA AKOKAN at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club on Friday April 19 at 7 P.M., as well as the current list of 2024 shows, can be found on Ticketmaster and Jimmy’s Online Event Calendar at: http://www.jimmysoncongress.com/events.
ABOUT JIMMY’S JAZZ & BLUES CLUB
The mission of Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is to provide guests with a one-of-a-kind, world-class experience featuring serious jazz and blues music served with exceptional cuisine. Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club features a spectacular and visually breathtaking environment engineered to deliver the highest quality acoustics while utilizing state-of-the-art production, sound and lighting technologies. Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is located within a beautifully restored 1905 building at 135 Congress Street in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For more information visit www.JimmysOnCongress.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JimmysJazzBlues and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjazzblues/. Sign-up for Jimmy’s Email Newsletter to stay informed on Upcoming Shows, New Artist Announcements, Promotional Offers, Ticket On-Sale Dates, Special Performances, and Jimmy’s Sunday Jazz Brunch. In June 2023, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club was given the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its’ outstanding Wine List.
PRIVATE EVENTS AT JIMMY’S
An architecturally breathtaking center of arts and culture in the heart of historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club offers a rare and spectacular venue to host important corporate functions, weddings, intimate or large-scale social gatherings, private parties, and memorable celebrations. The team at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club put heart and soul into creating a stunning full-service event space with new state-of-the-art production, sound and lighting technologies delivered with outstanding next-level culinary experiences. Our high-touch approach, provided by professional and experienced event staff, ensures that everything is tailored to exceed your expectations. To start a conversation about hosting your event at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club, please call us at 888-603-5299, or fill out Jimmy’s Private Event Request Form.
JOIN THE TEAM AT THE LABRIE GROUP FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS
Motivated by a commitment to culinary and hospitality excellence, founders Michael and Peter Labrie and their leadership team understand it is essential to seek out talented team members for each of The Labrie Group family of restaurants — Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, The Atlantic Grill, The River House, and Waterview Grille — all in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Career opportunities and current job openings can be found at www.TheLabrieGroup.com.
