Yerbabuena

Although charanga traces its roots to Cuba, the Seattle, Washington, USA-based ensemble Yerbabuena ranks among the style’s most accomplished practitioners. Beyond their signature focus on charanga, the musicians demonstrate equal command of son, cha-cha-chá, guaguancó, and danzón. Assembled in varying configurations since 1994, the expansive collective features Tom Bergersen on guiro and conga, Barney Brazitis on bass, Astrae Doty-Vargas on vocals, Theodora Fogarty and Marc Gavin on violin, Fred Hoadley on piano, tres, and vocals, Elspeth Macdonald handling lead vocals and clarinet, Heather Ballard and Irene Mitri also on violin, Sabra Weber and Jim O’Halloran on flute, Steve Smith and Ernesto Pediangco on bongo and guiro, and Lance Lu together with Chris Stromquist on timbales. While the group occasionally presents original compositions, its repertoire centers on works by such celebrated Cuban figures as Buena Vista Social Club, Orquesta Aragón, Los Van Van, Benny Moré, Eliades Ochoa, Candido Fabré, and Original De Manzanillo. Despite years of activity, Yerbabuena issued its first full-length studio album only with the arrival of Vaiven De Mar in 2001.