Classical and popular in Atenas Brass Ensemble.

Specialized critics value the quality of the Atenas Brass Ensemble for the versatility and skill of its musicians in performing genres ranging, for the moment, from mambo, danzón, jazz, tango and samba, to various symphonic arrangements.
More than 200 arrangements in a repertoire of classical and danceable compositions enhance the art of the brass and percussion group Atenas Brass Ensemble, which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year 2024.
It is currently integrated by trombones, a French horn and a tuba, plus a percussion line.
Its artistic offerings include the popular Mambo No. 5, by Dámaso Pérez Prado, and renowned Cuban and Mexican pieces. It was founded under the baton of trumpeter Rodolfo Horta Hernández on February 26th, 2014 and has been continuously renewed, to be maintained for a few years under the direction of Dayron Jiménez.
The young trombonist talks about his experiences during the tenth anniversary and future projects:
«There were many emotions in 2024, because it has been a long time since we felt so involved in the Matanzas culture, as it happened in that period, when recognitions abounded and they counted more on us for various activities.
«It is true that we have changed several times the format and the members, it was a convulsive year, with changes, but of fantastic experiences when performing in important halls, in squares and communities with concerts or within the cast of shows.
«Intense work has been in the neighborhoods thanks to the Direction of Culture, to René Quirós. We have made a musical tour through the Alturas de Simpson, approaching the people who have less access to this type of music, to this form of art that we do, because it incorporates performance, the stories we want to tell…, the important thing is that we reach the hearts of the people of Matanzas.»
About its inclusion in the Mambo Route, in tribute to matancero Damaso Perez Prado, a project that integrates in the organizing committee playwright and promoter Ulises Rodriguez Febles, Dr. Maria Victoria Oliver, in conjunction with Arnaldo Rodriguez. director of Talisman and Havana Mambo Festival, Jimenez reported:
«As you know, we are known for being a quintet that defends the music of Pérez Prado; then, from the play El Rey del Mambo, by Ulises Rodríguez Febles, and the work we did with the group Conjuro Teatro, the repertoire and the closeness with the stellar musician from Matanzas, we feel like his children, with the interpretation of more than 20 works of his authorship.
«We not only play mambo, but symphonic works composed by Pérez Prado, because he was an incredible author, and participating in this project stimulates us in our work, with the musicologist Cary Diez, who counted on us, with Arnaldo, with Ulises and María Victoria Oliver, Very exciting.
«For this 2025 our motivation is to continue playing in various places and we have in hand a project to bring symphonic music to the rumba. Yes, we have defended the mambo and danzón, but we are in the cradle of rumba, so from the brass wind with percussion, to bring classical works to the rhythm of this genre, to see how we make those arrangements.
«And if one day we can record an album, it would be perfect; dream also a video clip and dream a lot and offer many concerts.»
«Everything is possible,» I tell him.
Written by María Elena Bayón Mayor.