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
Upcoming Shows
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
Find us:
https://www.facebook.com/OrquestaLaModernaTradicion
https://www.instagram.com/
Orq. LMT Members
Tregar Otton – violin, arranger, composer, director
Michael Spiro - congas, timbales, afro-cuban percussion
Maru Pérez-Viana - manager, coros
Eduardo Herrera - lead vocals
Anthony Blea - violin
John Calloway - flute
Pablo Caro - violin, coros
Osvaldo Carvajal - coros, güiro
Ayla Dávila - bass
Marco Díaz - piano, coros
Carlitos Medrano - conga
Sandy Poindexter - violin
Remi Spiro - timbales
Antonio Del Barrio - piano
Past/Other Members :
Roberto
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
Jeff Cressman - trombone
Julio De La Cruz - piano, bass
Past Venues
Lincoln Center, New York N.Y.
Smithsonian, Washington D.C.
The Ford, Los Angeles CA
Breckenridge Festival, CO
Telluride Festival, CO
Stern Grove Festival, San Francisco CA
Yoshi's, Oakland CA
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley CA
Oakland Museum, Oakland CA
De Young Museum, San Francisco CA
San Jose Jazz Summer Festival, San Jose CA
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco CA
Kuumbwa Jazz, Santa Cruz CA
Sonoma Valley Jazz Society, Sonoma CA
Fillmore Jazz Festival, San Francisco CA
The Sound Room, Oakland CA
Pacifica Performances, Pacifica CA
La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley CA
Brooklyn Basin, Oakland CA
Charley's, Los Gatos CA
Seahorse Restaurant, Sausalito CA
Trader's Vic, Emeryville CA
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!