Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

Founded by master Cuban percussionist/dancer Roberto Borrell and violinist/composer Tregar Otton in 1996, the San Francisco based Orquesta la Moderna Tradición has been wowing dancers and Cuban music aficionados alike with their original take on the sweet but driving grooves of Charanga, featuring violins and woodwinds interlocking with driving afro-Cuban rhythms. The Orquesta is truly unique as one of the only ensembles in the world carrying on the tradition of this legendary brand of popular Cuban dance music with passionate devotion. Orq. LMT thrills audiences with a mix of contemporary timba-infused arrangements guaranteed to get you on your feet and traditional danzón and cha-cha-chá transporting you back to the Havana social clubs of the 1950s.

Led by two highly regarded stalwart musicians from the Bay Area, Tregar Otton and Michael Spiro, the ensemble has played in festivals and major venues across the United States and internationally including the Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, the Stern Grove Festival, the Breckenridge Jazz festival to name a few, and loves playing for our loyal fans at local Bay Area venues such as Yoshi’s and Freight and Salvage.

The 12-piece Orquesta LMT has released four critically acclaimed albums, their latest being EnCantado featuring some of the finest performers of Cuban music that the Bay Area has to offer including Carlos Caro, Eduardo Herrera, Felix Samuel, Mike Spiro, Miguelito Martinez, and our newest member Jeff Cressman on trombones. ¡Pa’Lante!

"Orquesta La Moderna Tradición continues to produce some of the finest Danzón-Charanga dance material anywhere....Gorgeous."
Bruce Polin, descarga.com reviewing their CD, En Canto

"Richly authentic... old wine in a new bottle for a younger generation to savor"
Jesse Varela, Latin Beat Magazine

"It's cadence is so sensual that it's virtually irresistible!"
Enrique Fernandez, Miami Sun Sentinel

"Records like this make the planet larger and more mysterious... Imagine a blend of Tito Puente and a tango, and you'll begin to get an idea of the power and beauty of this music"
Sarah Ludwig, Ink 19