Okocán, in Yoruba, Afro-Cuban language, means (from the heart). This was the name chosen by Eduardo Moreno, Musical Director, singer and composer to give an identity to this musical project.
This proposal directs its approach to the sound and roots of Cuban music, adding a more contemporary musical language as a special condiment. In addition to an exquisite mixture of Cuban genres and rhythms such as Changüí, Bolero, Son, Danzón, Chachachá and Guaracha.
Cuban musician born in Guanabacoa, Havana.
A graduate of the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory as well as the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), both located in Havana, Eduardo has a strong academic background as a classical guitarist. His passion for the popular music of his native country motivated his pursuit of further study, opening doors for him to play alongside many revered Son musicians of Cuba. His ongoing study coupled with these opportunities to collaborate with some of Cuba’s most talented musicians nourished Eduardo’s love for these genres. Eduardo credits his musical journey in Cuba as a student and artist for “expanding his horizon in a world full of musical colors and sounds.”
In his career as an accompanying musician, a particular highlight of Eduardo’s journey is his work with renowned singer and interpreter Pedro Lugo Martínez (El Nene), with whom he played for 7 years.
The impact of Eduardo’s music has been felt worldwide: along with playing in over 50 cities in Europe as well as being a part of large international tours, Eduardo has shared his music with audiences in some of the world’s most transcendental music scenes including the {what year} Montreux Jazz Festival and the {what year} Baile de la Rosa organized by the Princess of Monaco. His music has been recorded in Cuba and Germany.
Today, from Medellín Colombia, Eduardo embarks on his own path as director, singer, guitarist, arranger and composer of Eduardo Moreno & Okocán, actualizing his dream of sharing his music with people all around the world.
Colombian musician born in the city of Medellín, Colombia.
Mateo has collaborated with many groups from the local scene including Siguarajazz, Charanga La Contundente, Madera Jazz, and Edward Ramirez (Venezuela). In 2018, Mateo was awarded a scholarship to the Bass, Drums & Groove School Workshop at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Percussionist and Singer from the city of Medellín, Colombia. At age 16, he began private drum lessons with teachers that include Carlos García and Juan Guillermo Aguilar. He has played in a variety of groups including Tierradentro and the Folkloric Ballet of Antioquia, Siguarajazz Orchestra, MCO Jazz Fusion, Malembe Y Son, los Gitanos de Belleville, Candela Verde Jazz. He currently plays with Jontre, RumbaSoundBand and Gori-Y, and has had the opportunity to play in Mexico, Spain, France, Brazil, China and Japan.
Sebastián has shared the stage with many successful artists including Carlos Vives, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, Samuel Torres, Van Van de Cuba, Oscar Stagnaro, Roberto Roena, Valentin Boby, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Cesar Mora, and Raphie leavit.
He was a producer and presenter of the radio show “La Esquina del Flow” for La Esquina Radio 101.4 FM in the city of Medellín and is part of the Barrio Comparsa cultural corporation and currently works as artistic director, musician, and teacher of the Metodología lúdica acción, Participación, Transformación (MLAPT) in topics of human awareness, music, stilts, comparsa creation and carnival.
Percussionist born in the city of Barquisimeto, state of Lara, Venezuela.
Amado began his musical studies at age 6 in the Percussion field. Coming from a musical family, his father Amado Méndez and his uncles (all renowned musicians of Venezuela) were his first teachers.
His skills as a percussionist led him to share a stage, nationally and internationally, with artists including Tito Nieves, Callejón Rumberos, and many others. His discipline, method, and musical style make him a prominent musician.
Musician born in Camagüey, Cuba. Cuban born and a Colombian of heart, this violinist began his studies in his hometown of Camagüey, at the Luis Casas Romero EVA Art Vocational School. He continued at the Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Havana where he worked with the National Orchestra of Cuba, La Camerata Brindis de Salas, La Orquesta De La Radio y La Televisión and La Orquesta del Gran Teatro de la Habana. Additionally, he was a member of a group led by singer Liuba María Hevia. In Colombia, he has worked as a professor in Fine Arts in Tunja and Cali, in the children and youth extension plan of Javeriana University in Bogotá, and in the Batuta Foundation nationwide.
He has played with important orchestras including the Valle Symphony, the National Symphony of Colombia, and the Medellín Philharmonic. His work can be heard in recordings of Galé Group, Maite Hontelé, Chocquibtown, La Toma, Milagros, and others.
In 2009, he co-founded Babalú Quinteto, and has since recorded three albums: the most recent Cuba Sobre Cuerdas was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2017.
Colombian musician born in the city of Medellín. Luis began his musical studies in the School and Band Network of Medellín.
He has played and shared the national and international stages with various groups including Siguarajazz, Darezka, El Balcón De Los Artistas, taking Colombian music to stages throughout Colombia and Europe. Performer of a variety of musical styles including Salsa, Merengue, Traditional Colombian Music, Champeta, and Son, Luis Felipe (Pipe), stands out for his sound and musical style.
Today he is part of Okocán, infusing his sound and musical color to Son of this generation.
Colombian musician, born in the city of Medellín.
Juan Camilo graduated from the Fundación Universitaria Bellas Artes 2014, specializing in electric guitar. He has been a member of various jazz, traditional, and urban groups of Medellín, including Teo Grajales Hip Bop Crew, La Malandanza, Feel Jazz, Los Monjes Orchestra, Grupo de Rock Arte-Vivo, and Eduardo Moreno and Okocán. He is the founder of the group Viajeros “música y camino”. He is a session musician for the Globo-Life and Audiorecord studios and was Director of El Club Del Jazz de Medellín 2016-2017. He has been and instructor for guitar, introduction to music and musical movement in diverse institutions such as: Technological University Institute of Antioquia, Comfama, Studio Ensamble Music Academy, Eladio Vélez School of Arts, and Corporación Por Un Sueño. He has presented on topics such as “The solo guitar in jazz” in 2014, “In search of the first recording of Colombian jazz” in 2015 and “Jazz in another swing” in 2018. He is currently teaching himself the techniques and language of the Cuban tres and the flamenco guitar.
“I enjoy many musical genres from jazz to Colombian music to rock and salsa … I try to be competent and active in each of them, but in the end, my desire is to express myself musically without being pigeonholed in one style. My music is the result of all my influences.”
