Vibrant All-Female Ensemble Kick-Off New Tour
During her numerous visits to Cuba, Jane Bunnett discovered a wealth of talent, particularly among the young female population. Approaching her exploration much like an anthropologist studying culture, Bunnett aimed to uncover the underlying reasons contributing to the remarkable musical abilities of young women on the island of Cuba. This endeavor gave birth to the Maqueque project. The group’s name is rooted in the Afro-Cuban Yoruba culture, where “Maqueque” translates to “the energy of a young girl’s spirit.”
For over a decade, Bunnett has been dedicated to capturing the vibrant energy of exceptional young female musicians and artists who have matured on the international stage. They have garnered award-winning recognition for their exceptional skills in composition, musicianship, and performance. The Maqueque ensemble boasts four albums to its credit and has earned three Grammy® Nominations along the way, with a fourth nomination likely stemming from their new release, “Playing With Fire.”
Jane Bunnett’s Maqueque ensemble showcases emerging next-generation Latin Jazz artists who are solidifying their presence on the international stage.
Dánae Olano
“Dánae Olano represents the future of the music…” — Felix Contreras, National Public Radio
Dánae Olano is a contemporary Cuban piano master who skillfully forges her own musical path while paying homage to jazz music legends. Born in Havana, Cuba, she has a track record of recording and touring internationally with Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. Additionally, Dánae is a regular performer with the Best World Music Juno Award winners OKAN and salsa star Marta Elena.
Joanna Majoko
Joanna Majoko is a vocalist, composer, and bandleader who has earned an international reputation as one of the most exciting young singers in the jazz scene today. Majoko has consistently shared the stage with esteemed musicians, including Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Larnell Lewis of Snarky Puppy.
She has graced the stages of some of the world’s most renowned festivals, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, France’s Jazz sur son 31 Festival, and Switzerland’s Internationales Jazz Festival Bern, where she participated in a week-long residency with Maqueque.
Majoko has also received several notable accolades, including the Emerging Jazz Artist award at the 2021 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards and the Jazz Artist of the Year title at the 2019 ByBlacks People’s Choice Awards.
Yissy Garcia
“If your knowledge of Cuban music stops at Buena Vista Social Club, let me introduce you to drummer Yissy García. She and her band, Bandancha, are perfect examples of how today’s Cuban musicians ignore boundaries to create stylistic hybrids that have yet to develop accurate descriptions — or even names.” NPR
Drummer and composer Yissy Garcia stands out as one of the most respected artists to emerge from an exceptionally vibrant new generation of Cuban musicians. She is hailed as the island’s foremost female percussionist and recognized for her dynamic and innovative performances, skillfully blending trap and percussion techniques influenced by folkloric and popular Cuban music, as well as contemporary jazz and funk styles.
García’s extensive performance history spans both nationally and internationally, including appearances in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. She has shared the stage with acclaimed artists such as Dave Matthews, Esperanza Spalding, Joshua Bell, Omara Portuondo, and Carlos Varela. Tom Tom Magazine, a New York-based women’s percussion quarterly, has likened her to Cuba’s answer to Terri Lyne Carrington, while Jazz Times has labeled her as “…a star in the making.”
Furthermore, García and her band have graced some of the United States’ most prestigious venues, with notable sessions at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in May 2018 and performances at the Lincoln Centre, the Kennedy Centre, the Los Angeles Music Centre, and SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Tailin Marrero and Mary Paz
Rounding out the Maqueque ensemble are exceptional bassist Tailin Marrero and the extremely gifted percussionist, Mary Paz.
In Concert Friday, September 15th at 7:00 P.M.
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque will be kicking off their new “Playing With Fire” tour on Friday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the new Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center. The new performing arts center will showcase and capture the energy of this incredible ensemble of young female musicians maturing on the international stage.
