#4929, From the Soundcheck Podcast: Orquesta Akokán, Ivan Llanes

Hear music by Cuban dance band Orquesta Akokán and Cuban singer, percussionist, and bandleader Ivan Llanes, from the Soundcheck podcast series.

The vintage sounds and energy of Cuban dance music of the mid-20th century live on in the music of Orquesta Akokán, a group of Cuban and American musicians who made a big splash with their debut record just six years ago. The band’s name, Akokán, is from Africa; it’s a Yoruba word meaning “from the heart.”  And this group’s collective heart beats to the rhythms of Havana (and Miami, and Brooklyn), which means salsa, rumba, and soul in addition to mambo. Orquesta Akokán has a brand new album called Caracoles, and it brings the band back to our studio to play some of these new songs. 

Then, listen to Cuban singer, percussionist, and bandleader Ivan Llanes who is based here in New York. On his debut LP, called La Vida Misma, you hear a reflection of Ivan’s musical interests, which begin with Cuban salsa and go on to include R&B, Brazilian music and more. He's fluent in Latin, Caribbean, and jazz traditions and is a prolific composer and sideman. Ivan’s band is similarly expansive, an 8-piece ensemble who perform new music from Ivan's debut record, in-studio.   

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: La Fiera [:52]
RECORDING: Caracoles
SOURCE: Daptone Records
INFO: https://daptone.ffm.to/caracoles.OYD 

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: Con Licencia [4:49]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/deep-and-fiery-cuban-mambo
INFO: orquestaakokan.com

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: Pan con Tibiri [2:56]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/deep-and-fiery-cuban-mambo
INFO: orquestaakokan.com

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: Caracoles [4:43]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/deep-and-fiery-cuban-mambo
INFO: orquestaakokan.com

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: Cha Cha Cha Pa'Ca [:23]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/deep-and-fiery-cuban-mambo
INFO: orquestaakokan.com

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: Suave Suave [2:26]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/deep-and-fiery-cuban-mambo
INFO: orquestaakokan.com

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán
WORK: La Siete Vidas de Ines [:27]
RECORDING: Caracoles
SOURCE: Daptone Records
INFO: https://daptone.ffm.to/caracoles.OYD

ARTIST: Ivan Llanes
WORK: Habana - New York [:39]
RECORDING: La Vida Misma
SOURCE: AIALE Productions
INFO: https://linktr.ee/ivanllanesmusic

ARTIST: Ivan Llanes
WORK: La Mejor Mujer [6:30]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/bandleader-and-timbalero-ivan-llanes
INFO: https://linktr.ee/ivanllanesmusic

ARTIST: Ivan Llanes
WORK: Cubahia [4:03]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/bandleader-and-timbalero-ivan-llanes
INFO: https://linktr.ee/ivanllanesmusic

ARTIST: Ivan Llanes
WORK: Respira y Siente [5:23]
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024
SOURCE: newsounds.org/story/bandleader-and-timbalero-ivan-llanes
INFO: https://linktr.ee/ivanllanesmusic