Orquesta Akokán

Orquesta Akokán is a Cuban-American jazz band formed in 2018, comprising José "Pepito" Gómez, Jacob Plasse, and Michael Eckroth. The group revives the classic sounds of 1950s Cuban orchestras, drawing influences from artists like Arsenio Rodríguez, Machito, Dámaso Pérez Prado, and Tito Puente. Gómez, originally from Cuba and based in New Jersey, is a singer and composer with experience in various bands. Plasse is a producer known for Los Hacheros and Chulo Records, while Eckroth is a jazz pianist and arranger who specializes in Cuban music. Their debut album, Orquesta Akokán, was released on Daptone Records in 2018. Recorded at Estudios Areito in Havana using 1950s studio techniques, the album earned them a nomination for "Best Tropical Latin Album" at the Grammy Awards of 2019.