Afro-Cuban All Stars

“irresistible rhythms which [get] the entire audience dancing… it’s actually hard to beat this kind of music – soulful, technically brilliant, sexy and uplifting.” – The ArtsDesk

Afro-Cuban All Stars is a unique orchestra that has always promoted the full range of Cuban music. This ensemble embraces several generations and all musical styles. Additionally, over the years many of the band’s musicians have become international stars. Brilliant performers like Ruben Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Guillermo Rubalcaba, Amadito Valdes and Manuel “The Guajiro” Mirabal have been All Stars.

The genesis of the Afro-Cuban All Stars dates to the early 1990s. At this time the son ensemble Sierra Maestra, headed by Juan de Marcos, received a lot of international exposure. Consequently, de Marcos led a couple of very successful tours in Europe. 

After several years of success, the All Stars are certainly one of the best-known and most successful Cuban orchestras. Moreover, they have earned four Grammy nominations, starred in several documentaries and films, and received many other distinctions. 

Further, Afro-Cuban All Stars has also opened the doors to a new generation by incorporating young musicians into the band. With his project, de Marcos has developed a concept: to stand up on the roots for creating the future. More so than simply creating a band, his approach has allowed him to expand its creative range by incorporating contemporary styles of Cuban music. To that end, he adopts a fluid approach to adjusting the orchestra’s line-up by changing or adding musicians. He tailors the ensemble to best reflect the different styles of music from the various periods that the band features.

The Afro-Cubans are the same orchestra that can be seen in those distinct performances captured in the now-famous film. They are in the Oscar-nominated Buena Vista Social Club documentary by Wim Wenders and the Tony Knox documentary Salon of Dreams. They also shine in films Live in Japan and Live in The Hague.

Recommended for Fans of Buena Vista Social Club, Orquesta Aragón, Los Van Van and Septeto Nacional.

LEARN MORE: http://afrocubanallstarsonline.com/