About Afincando
Afincando ~ the name of Portland's hottest new Salsa band literally translates to what the band does every time they play - Groove. If you like to dance and you love salsa, Afincando is the band for you. Playing in the best dance venues all over Portland, Afincando started in the basement of band leader and percussionist Giovanni Cruz.
"We spent over a year in my basement, just playing around with our sound...working to get out rhythm section tight ~ just our bassist Bryan Hopkins, my wife Christine on keyboards and myself on congas. Slowly we developed the sound I was looking for."
Many of Portland's best musicians passed through my basement during that first year, each having his own impact on out style. The influence of cuban sonero artist Marcos Moracen, can still be heard in Afincando's music, and we miss the joy he brought to the band.
Adding depth with horns featuring Farnell Newton on trumpet, additional percussionists including Caton Lyles and lead singer Oscar Herrera, Afincando has earned a reputation for the kind of tight rhythm and beautiful melody that gets dancers out on the floor. With the addition of New Orleans native Devin Phillips, adding the final grace notes to the bands terrific sound, Afincando has become the band to watch.
