A Live Latin band playing music for any occasion
CAFECITO is charanga with a twist!
"Fantastic entertainment"
— Solicitors' Party
".....a great big thank you for the wonderful music at our wedding! The music was just brilliant and we had lots of people say how perfect it was for the day!"
— Victoria & John
Influenced by the musical styles of the great Cuban charanga bands such as Arcaño y sus Maravillas, and Las Estrellas Cubanas, and by Cuban jazz pianists Frank Emilio Flynn and Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz, and also a nod to 19th & 20th century Cuban classical piano composers such as Ignacio Cervantes and Manuel Saumell, Live Latin Band Cafecito plays an exhilarating pre-salsa style of music still heard on the streets of old Havana today — the music of the orquesta francesa - cha cha chas, danzones and boleros plus Latin jazz, which you will have heard a flavour of in the Buena Vista Social Club recordings. Our repertoire includes new arrangements of Cuban classics such as Frenesí, new takes on standards as diverse as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sidney Bechet's Petite Fleur and the Brazilian bossa nova Recado, as well as original compositions such as the danzón El Gato Que Tiene Hambre and El Aciano by Cafecito's pianist, leader and musical director Janet Sherbourne.
"Excellent! Thanks so much."
— Newham Music Academy
Perfect for either dancing or background music, pre-dinner drinks, weddings, parties, corporate events and Cuban and Latin American themed evenings and for concerts at arts centres or music societies, festivals and jazz clubs.
Cafecito plays with between five to eight musicians according to the event. The core band is flute, piano, congas, bongos, timbales and double bass. We can perform as a five or six piece (without lead singer) for background music situations, and eight piece with lead Cuban singer and violin, for dancing.
Our first CD - El Gato - is available as a CD or as mp3s from CD Baby, or direct from us in the UK. Find out more on our CDs page.
Cafecito has featured in a series of TV ads for Aviva insurance, with music composed by bandleader, arranger and pianist Janet Sherbourne. You can see these on our soundclips page.
Cafecito Live Latin Band - playing music suitable for Wedding Ceremonies, Drinks Receptions & Dancing, for Anniversary Parties, Corporate Entertainment and for any other Celebration or Event.