Launched as a quintet at The Cross in December 2016, AfroKan* was relaunched as a septeto in October 2025 as part of the Wellington Jazz Festival to celebrate resident Cuban musician and musical director Rafael Ferrer Noel's 20th anniversary in New Zealand.
AfroKan plays 100% authentic and totally danceable Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz with a bit of Salsa and Cha Cha Cha on top, and is a collaboration between resident Afro-Latino and top-end loca jazzl musicians..
Its repetoire includes compositions by Afro-Cuban Jazz greats such as Chucho Valdéz, Carlos “Patato” Valdéz, Poncho Sánchez, Rubén González and Orlando “Maraca” Valle amongst others.
Tonight's ensemble features:
- Rafael Ferrer Noel (Cuba) - vocals and congas
- Mikey Trujillo Rodriguez (Perú) - vocals and bongos
- John Rae (Scotland) - drums and timbales
- Patrick Bleakley (Wairarapa) - double bass
- Ayrton Foote (Wellington) - keyboard
- Daniel Windsor (Wellington) - trumpet
- Oscar Lavën (Wellington) - Tenor Saxophone
- Rosina van der Aa (Waiwhetu) - Manager
*AfroKan is a Yoruba term used in Cuba meaning Africano de Corazón – African at Heart.
Music from 930, FREE ENTRY - Koha for the band encouraged
