top of page
La Moderna Tradion at Yoshis 2022-7590HR edited.jpg

Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

Contact Us

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

Past Shows

The Sound Room, Oakland CA

March 12 & June 26, 2022

Pacifica Performances, Pacifica CA

April 2, 2022

https://pacificaperformances.org/

Yoshi's, Oakland CA

April 20 & September 9, 2022

https://yoshis.com/

Charley's, Los Gatos CA

June 2, 2022

Brooklyn Basin, Oakland CA

June 10, 2022

https://rockysmarket.com/

Freight & Salvage, Berkeley CA

August 5, 2022

https://thefreight.org/

Creative Growth Beyond Trend / Oakland Museum CA

August 27, 2022

https://creativegrowth.org/

All Videos

All Videos

All Categories
All Categories
Music

Cuban Guaracha with Orq. la Moderna Tradición

Cuban Son Montuno, Cha Cha Cha by Orq. la Moderna Tradición

Danzon Cha "Soy Matancero" by Orq. la Moderna Tradición

As a point of reference

Cuba is famous for the myriad of musical genres it has contributed to the world (both popular and folkloric), and as we have moved further into the 21st century the once hugely popular charanga sound that was born on the island in the early 20th century has come very close to extinction. This is true not only in Cuba, but in the United States as well. But because we love the textures and sonority of a Cuban rhythm section accompanying woodwinds and strings, we have remained passionate in our “defense” of this musical genre!

Orq. LMT
Members

present:

Tregar Otton – violin, arranger, composer, coros, director

Michael Spiro - congas, timbales, afro-cuban percussion

Anthony Blea - violin

John Calloway - flute

Pablo Caro - violin, coros

Osvaldo Carvajal - coros

Jeff Cressman - trombone

Ayla Dávila - bass

Julio De La Cruz - piano, bass

Marco Díaz - piano, coros

Eduardo Herrera - lead vocals

Carlitos Medrano - conga

Maru Pérez-Viana - coros, manager

Sandy Poindexter - violin

Remi Spiro - timbales

 

Past Members - featured on recordings:

 

Roberto Borrell 

Roberto Borrell - conga, co-director

Jesús ‘Chus’ Alonso – flute

Sage Baggott - coros, güiro

Edgardo Cambón – coros

Monchi Estévez – coros

Don Gardner - clarinet

Bob Karty – piano

Miguelito Martínez – flute, coros

Félix Samuel - lead vocals

Steve Senft-Herrera – bass

Get in Touch

Thanks for submitting!

bottom of page