Ino Alvarez

The Cuban Ballroom Orchestra was born from the desire to keep traditional Cuban music alive and continue exposing the world to the authentic sounds of the island. In achieving this goal, Cuban Ballroom Orchestra director, Inocente “ Ino” Alvarez, collaborated globally with some of Cuba’s most renowned musicians in an effort to recreate the sounds of the first half of the 20th Century-era music in Cuba. Music in the likes of Benny More, Perez Prado, Orestes Lopez, Israel Cachao Lopez, Orquesta Casino de la Playa, and more. Due to the political blockade of the island, exposing Cuban music to the world was a difficult task until the Buena Vista Social Club “boom” in 1998. Ino Alvarez was fortunate enough to experience the “Renaissance” of Cuban music outside the island when he was integrated to Cuba’s most prestigious, national orchestra, The Orquesta Aragon. With Aragon he was able to perform in over 70 countries and record with musical talents such as Elena Burke, Omara Potuondo, Celeste Mendoza, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa, Ruben Gonzalez, Cesaria Evora, Papa Wemba, Cheo Feliciano, Ricardo Lemvo, Pio Leiva, and more. Three of his recordings earned Ino Alvarez Grammy Award nominations as well as UNESCO's Pablo Picasso Medal in recognition for outstanding contributions to art and culture.

The experience Ino Alvarez gained during his time performing with The Orquesta Aragon was extremely beneficial to him in that he became prepared musically and professionally for what was to be his first major musical project, The Cuban Ballroom Orchestra.