The Akokán Project
The audience experienced a night of pure energy and rhythm as Nova Concerts Series presented Akokán – The Roots of Afro-Cuban Jazz on May 16, 2025, at MusiKcafeen. This Cuban ensemble united a vibrant lineup of internationally acclaimed musicians, each of whom brought their own voice to the Afro-Cuban jazz tradition. The ensemble included Cuban percussionist Bárbaro “Machito” Crespo, the dynamic Eliel Lazo, bassist Yasser Pino, vocalist and percussionist Maykel Castellanos, and the amazing Polish pianist Artur Tuźnik.
Machito’s electrifying percussion set the pulse of the performance. A respected figure in the Cuban music scene, he performed with top orchestras and legends of Latin music, earning accolades for his deep rhythmic knowledge and commanding stage presence. Eliel Lazo brought his award-winning style and deep Afro-Cuban roots to the stage. Yasser Pino’s groove-driven bass lines provided a rock-solid foundation. Artur Tuźnik combined melodic and harmonic sensibility, blending Polish folk and Scandinavian jazz with Afro-Cuban traditions.
“This concert was a tribute to Africa’s essential role in shaping Cuban and Latin Jazz,” said Abel Alazo, Director of Nova Concerts Series. “We brought together the roots and rhythms of a new generation—musicians influenced by both African and European traditions—to offer a fresh and powerful take on Latin Jazz. We were excited to share this unique experience with you all.”
The repertoire included Akokán's reimagined takes on traditional chants and toques (rhythmic patterns) from the pantheon of the Orishas—West African deities whose traditions were carried to Cuba and Brazil through centuries of forced cultural migration and exchange—interwoven with original Cuban Rumba compositions.
The audience stepped into a world where rhythm breathed, melodies conversed, and tradition met innovation in a rich and immersive musical experience. With all musicians hailing from Cuba—except for the Polish pianist Artur Tuźnik—this concert offered a unique blend of cultural expressions rooted in Cuban heritage.
Date
May 16th, 2025
Venue
Musikcafeén, Huset i Magstræde
A Concert
A CONCERT THAT TOOK NOVA CONCERTS BACK TO ITS CORE, A BEAUTIFUL, RAW, HONEST AND PURE CULTURAL ENCOUNTER. MACHITO CRESPO AND ELIEL DELIVERED A PERFORMANCE THAT EVOKED TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THE AFROCUBAN MUSICAL HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED THEM AS ARTISTS AND PROFESSIONALS. WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL TO THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER MARTIN DEDRON FOR CAPTURING THIS WONDERFUL INTENSITY.
This was a night of emotions, beautiful surprises, dance, and chants. Most of all, it was a night of revelations, a new musical constellation was born, and Nova Concerts was the space of creation!
Moments to remember
MUSIC HAS ITS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME MOMENTS. THE AKOKÁN PROJECT GAVE US ONE.
