SPECIAL TO NHN

Juan de Marcos of Buena Vista Social Club fame will be bringing his troupe of musicians to Hawaii for the first time April 15.

The Afro-Cuban All Stars, spanning four generations of performing artists — from the ages of 13 to 81 — will perform at the Kahilu Theatre at 8 p.m. The All Stars is a unique band devoted to promoting the full range of Cuban music, one that embraces several generations and all musical styles. Their music is a mix of bolero, chachacha, salsa, son montuno, timba, gaujira, danzon, rumba and abakua.

Juan de Marcos has probably done more than any other person to bring traditional Cuban music to audiences outside of Cuba. He started in the early ’90s with an ensemble called Sierra Maestra, which toured internationally and earned him the job of assembling and directing the group that became the Buena Vista Social Club. For the All Stars he orchestrated a changing multigenerational line-up of virtuoso players, mixing classic songs and styles with updated music and original compositions that showcased Cuba’s musical vitality. The band achieved great success, recording fourteen albums in Cuba, touring Africa and Europe and receiving numerous awards, including four Grammy nominations. They are the same band 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 or Live in The Hague. Over the years, many of the band’s musicians have become international stars, including brilliant performers such as Rubin Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer and Manuel “The Guajiro” Mirabal.

Seattle Weekly wrote: “The musicians on stage had the energy and vitality of a band that just kicked the door down after being locked out for so long and they played some of the most alluring mambo and salsa music I’ve ever heard. Considering several of the newer members of this14 piece group had never been allowed inside America, the band did not disappoint during their two set performance.” And the Weekly concluded by saying, “It was a great night and after the band finished, took a bow, and exited the stage, the whole theater shouted “otro, otro”.”

Afro-Cuban All Stars is generously sponsored by Dr. John Stover, Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii, Waianuhea – An Inn of Luxury, A House of Aloha and The Fairmont Orchid. The Kahilu Theatre Foundation is supported by the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the State Legislature; by the National Endowment for the Arts; by the grants from various charitable foundations; Hawaii Tourism Authority; County of Hawaii Department of Research & Development; and by individual and corporate donations._ For information about the theatre or any event, please visit www.kahilutheatre.org or call the Box Office at 885-6868, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tickets for this performance are $50 and $55 and may be ordered by calling the Box Office. VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid of service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedure to participate at this event should contact the Box Office at 885-6868 as soon as possible, but no later than April 13.