Orquesta Akokán made a major splash in 2018 with their bold take on Cuban mambo, bringing a fresh energy to the genre while honoring its roots. Producer Jacob Plasse and arranger Michael Eckroth assembled a team of Havana's finest musicians to create a sound that blends classic Cuban grooves with modern vitality, embodying the Yoruba word akokán, meaning "from the heart." NPR praises their music, saying, "If this doesn't get your foot tapping, you may be dead." The Chicago Reader calls it "an ea...