At last… the UK debut for Israel López “Cachao”. Cachao invented the mambo, in Havana in 1938 with his brother Orestes, by fusing up tempo Afro Cuban rhythms into the rather staid danzón and thus changed the history of the twentieth century.

He is the don of a bass-playing dynasty which according to urban legend is a lineage of anything from 35 to 100 bassists spanning two centuries and including Cachao’s nephew Cachaito in Buena Vista Social Club. Tonight, at the age of 88, having won a Grammy last year and still at the height of his improvisational powers, he makes his London debut backed by a stellar band.

Cachao was living in relative obscurity in Miami in the nineteen eighties when actor and fan Andy Garcia contacted him. The two artists collaborated and the end result was the highly acclaimed documentary, Cachao….Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos in 1993. The film caused such a stir that Cachao was asked to perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York City that same year and a string of acclaimed releases has followed since.

ISRAEL LOPEZ "CACHAO" BASS
ALFREDO VALDES JR. PIANO
KIWZO FUMERO TRUMPET
MARK GREGORY TROMBONE
RAFAEL PALAU SAXOPHONE
FEDERICO BRITOS VIOLIN
EDWIN BONILLA TIMBALES
RICHIE FLORES CONGAS
DANIEL PALACIO CHORUS
ANTHONY COLUMBIE VOCALIST