Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars

Founded by bandleader and musical ambassador Juan de Marcos González, the legendary Afro-Cuban All Stars celebrates the full spectrum of Cuban music across generations and styles. Emerging from the same creative movement that brought the world the Buena Vista Social Club, the orchestra unites master musicians and rising artists on one stage. 

The repertoire includes classic Cuban son and danzón alongside the electrifying pulse of contemporary timba dance music. With infectious rhythms, blazing horns, and spirited vocals, the ensemble delivers a performance honoring Cuba’s musical heritage while carrying it vibrantly into the present.

The ensemble is devoted to promoting the full range of Cuban music, one that embraces several generations and all musical styles. Over the years many of the band’s musicians have become international stars, including brilliant performers such as Ruben Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer, Guillermo Rubalcaba, Amadito Valdes, and Manuel “The Guajiro” Mirabal.

About Afro-Cuban All Stars

The genesis of the Afro-Cuban All Stars has its roots early in the 1990s when the son ensemble Sierra Maestra, headed by Juan de Marcos González, was receiving a lot of international exposure. During this time, González was introduced to Nick Gold, president of World Music Records (then a small independent world music label), which led to a couple of very successful tours in Europe. Later the group went to London and recorded Dundumbanza, considered one of the jewels of the world music scene of the early ‘90s. (In retrospect, this recording opened the doors to the further incredible boom of the traditional Cuban music of the period.)  

Months later, González got the go-ahead to do an album celebrating the classic Cuban sound of the ‘50s — a recording whose personnel would feature many great musicians that he knew. The plan was to prepare two projects: one featuring a Cuban big band and the other favoring a more traditional sound reminiscent of the acoustic style of Nico Saquito or Portabales. 

In March of 1996 they recorded the album A toda Cuba le Gusta, featuring nearly 60 performers. With the addition of celebrated artists such as Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Barbarito Torres, and legendary American guitarist Ry Cooder, the Buena Vista Social Club was born. With a low budget and only two live recording sessions, they also recorded Rubén González’s first solo album, Introducing Ruben Gonzalez, which became one of the most successful of the Buena Vista series of recordings.

During the spring of 1997, González and a select group of stellar musicians started touring under the banner of a band christened the Afro-Cuban All Stars. The original lineup included Ruben González and Guillermo Rubalcaba (piano); Orlando López (bass); Amadito Valdés (timbale); Carlos González and Roberto Valdés (bongos and Cuban percussion); Ángel Terry (congas); Daniel Ramos, Alejandro Pichardo, and “Guajiro” Mirabal (trumpets); Alberto “Molote” Martínez and Jesús “Aguaje” Ramos (trombones); and Raúl Planas, Manuel Licea, Pío Leiva, Ibrahim Ferrer, and Félix Baloy (lead singers). 

After several years of success, including four Grammy nominations, several documentaries and films, and many other distinctions, the All Stars are certainly one of the best-known and successful Cuban orchestras, along with Los Van and Irakere.

Afro-Cuban All Stars has also opened the doors to a new generation by incorporating young musicians into the band. With his project, González 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 the ensemble’s creative range by incorporating contemporary styles of Cuban music and taking a fluid approach to adjusting the orchestra’s lineup by changing or adding musicians as appropriate to best reflect the different styles of music the band features. 

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

This is Juan de Marcos and Afro-Cuban All Stars' first performance at the center.

* Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change.